The Scottish National Portrait in Edinburgh - home to a bust of James Watt (and other pieces linked to the inventor) - is staging free gallery tours. The next ones are taking place on Saturday, November 2. A spokesperson said: "To coincide with the bicentenary celebrations of Scottish engineer James Watt, historian Alastair Learmont will … Continue reading Get some Enlightenment at Portrait Gallery
Focus on Watt and Smeaton
James Watt's relationship with civil engineer John Smeaton will be the focus of a free talk in Edinburgh this month. Professor Gordon Masterton will present the 2019 Smeaton Lecture - subtitled "Unleashing the power that changed the world" - at the James Clerk Maxwell Foundation in the city's India Street on Wednesday, October 23. The event … Continue reading Focus on Watt and Smeaton
James Watt on Good Morning Scotland
The BBC's Good Morning Scotland radio programme has reflected on the life of James Watt ahead of the 200th anniversary of his death. The programme was broadcast today (August 18, 2019) - and is available to stream for the next 30 days. The programme talked to Watt experts from across Scotland and also highlighted Watt's … Continue reading James Watt on Good Morning Scotland
New exhibition at the National Library
James Watt is one of the great Scots featuring in a new exhibition opening today (June 21) at the National Library of Scotland in Edinburgh. "Northern Lights, the Scottish Enlightenment" runs until April 2020. Admission is free of charge and there's no need to book. Names connected with the Scottish Enlightenment such as David Hume … Continue reading New exhibition at the National Library
The changing narrative about James Watt
Researcher Kate Bowell has been looking at how the story of James Watt has been presented to audiences visiting the National Museum of Scotland. The Museum in Edinburgh is home to a Boulton and Watt engine, which takes pride of place in one of the first floor galleries. Kate is a Ph.D. student at the … Continue reading The changing narrative about James Watt
Watt, Smith and Adam to feature in exhibition
Key figures of the Scottish Enlightenment - including inventor James Watt, economist Adam Smith and architect Robert Adam - will feature in a new exhibition at the National Library of Scotland in Edinburgh. "Northern Lights" will highlight the amazing achievements of a "diverse" array of key players in the 18th century. The Scotsman reports that … Continue reading Watt, Smith and Adam to feature in exhibition
The ‘defining image’ of James Watt – on show in 2019
It's been described as the "defining image" of inventor James Watt. "James Watt and the Steam Engine: the Dawn of the Nineteenth Century", by James Eckford Lauder (NG 2435), will go on show at the Scottish National Gallery on the Mound in Edinburgh in July 2019. The painting has been described as the "world's largest … Continue reading The ‘defining image’ of James Watt – on show in 2019
James Watt at the National Mining Museum Scotland
Inventor James Watt worked on developing the steam engine to support the mining industry. Watt gained early support from industrialist Dr John Roebuck, who was leasing pits around Bo'ness in central Scotland in the 18th century. Roebuck hoped Watt could improve the steam engine to reduce flooding in his pits. Sadly Watt's breakthrough improvements came … Continue reading James Watt at the National Mining Museum Scotland
James Watt at National Galleries of Scotland
Art lovers can come face-to-face with inventor James Watt through the collection of the National Galleries of Scotland. You can view online images from the NGS collection here. We asked Helen Smailes, Senior Curator of British Art (Paintings and Sculpture), at NGS to pick out some of her highlights. The bust She started by talking about a … Continue reading James Watt at National Galleries of Scotland
Promoting Watt at Heriot-Watt
Angela Edgar, the curator at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, has talked about the foundation of the institution - and its plans to celebrate the life of James Watt with a new exhibition early in 2019. The display will include two of the University's prized items - a copying machine designed by James Watt and a James Nasmyth … Continue reading Promoting Watt at Heriot-Watt
James Watt 
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