In this week’s blog we look back on the events of this month 250 years ago. Events that would set the industrial revolution into overdrive, put Birmingham on the map and secure a partnership’s place in history. This week we are celebrating the 250th anniversary of James Watt’s arrival in Birmingham and delving into the Boulton and Watt collections to see the struggles faced by Watt and the light at the end of the tunnel.
James Watt was born in January 1736 in Greenock, Scotland. He was home schooled and his father encouraged his him to draw wherever and whenever he could, Watt also took to deconstructing toys to better understand their workings.
As a young man Watt trained as a mathematical instrument maker in Glasgow and London. Despite modest success with a shop on the University of Glasgow Campus, the main focus of Watt’s mind, and the problem to which he continued to return, was the issue of efficiency arising from the Newcomen Engine. The Newcomen Engine had been invented around 40 years earlier by Thomas Newcomen and it was the first to harness the power of steam. Watt believed the engine could be improved, however in order to experiment and build models of new improved engines he needed capital; he needed a partner which he found in John Roebuck of the Carron works.
‘I had at that time conceived a very Clear Idea of my Present Improvements & had even made some tryal of them tho not so satisfactory as has been done since Doctor Roebuck agreed to take my debts upon him & to lay out whatever more money was necessary either for Experiments or securing the Invention for which cause I made over to him two thirds of the property of the Invention the debt, & expences are now about £1200.
Between the years 1767 and 1774 James Watt experimented with his engine designs, whilst working and also maintaining a prodigious correspondence network including with Matthew Boulton in Birmingham. His letters to Boulton are now held here in the Library of Birmingham Archives and Collections. The earliest letter written by Watt to Boulton that we hold dates from 1768. In this letter Watt discusses the experiments he has completed with his engine, described as a fire engine, and his struggles with debt. He also mentions his contact with John Roebuck and their agreement to form a partnership, the letter suggests that Roebuck has taken over all of James’ debts. There is even a suggestion that Boulton, Watt, Dr Small and Roebuck should join together in partnership.
The letters of Dr William Small to James Watt (which are also held within the Matthew Boulton papers) suggest that the years 1772 and 1773 were tough for Watt. An economic crisis in 1772 caused financial panic, leading to the collapse of major banks and building projects. This crisis caused problems for both Roebuck and Watt, and it also put Watt’s engine under threat, he now had no income with which to experiment, and Roebuck couldn’t provide help. William Small was Scottish doctor and a professor of natural philosophy who had moved to Birmingham in 1765. He was a member of the Lunar Society and personal doctor to many prominent Birmingham figures including Boulton. Watt had suggested that Boulton and Small buy his engine from him at a lower value than its worth. In Small’s reply he states his regret that they are unable to buy the engine, not that they don’t want to, but they would never put their friend in such an unfortunate position, losing an asset for under its value. He also expresses that Watt is often in their thoughts. It highlights their friendship and the regard they held for each other.
The letters of this period also show how much Small wanted Watt safe in Birmingham, he suggests Watt move several times across the letters of this period. As Watt was in financial difficulty at this time, it may have proved quite tempting. By 1773 it is evident from the letters of Small that Watt is contemplating a move. In this letter from March 1773 Small expresses his joy at news that Watt is seriously considering bringing his family and himself to live and work in Birmingham. We can infer from this that the partnership between Watt and Roebuck was failing, and Watt needed a new start and to be around friends.
In October 1773 Watt’s plans changed. A letter from Small at this time shows how dear Watt was to him, describing his pain at being unable to physically comfort Watt and offers his condolences on the death of Watt’s wife. In this letter he also begs Watt to come to Birmingham. Watt’s struggles and financial problems were evident in the letters, his health being a worry for both Watt and his friends, Small seems especially concerned with his welfare. However, at the end of April 1774 a letter was sent from Watt to Small that suggested these issues were being left in the past.
Here we see that Watt was ready for a new start, and also willing to admit that he needed the support of his friends. His engine had been secured, the partnership with Boulton had been agreed and here Watt writes:
‘I begin to see day light through the affairs that have detained me for so long, and think of setting out for you in a fortnight at furthest’
After years of letters, urging, support and planning, Watt, at the end of May 1774, finally secured himself in Birmingham with a strong partnership, preparing a new home for his family and a place among friends, and the rest, as they say, is history!
All of these letters have come from the series of correspondence in the Matthew Boulton papers found at reference: MS 3782/12/76. Further biographical detail has been taken from ‘Lives of Boulton and Watt’ by Samuel Smiles, 1865 and Revolutionary Players.
Helen Glenn, Senior Assistant, Archives and Collections
The Iron Room 