James Watt letter

Collection — Box: 1

Identifier: MS-HUT-010

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The collection consists of one holographic letter of James Watt to the Rev. Dionysius Lardner, dated September 6, 1835. The letter is bound and forms a single volume.

he letter was written from Watt's home, Aston Hall, and is an invitation to dinner to the Rev. Dionysius Lardner. Lardner was a scientific writer, well-known for his contributions to the Cabinet Cyclopaedia. In the letter, Watt wrote that he was expecting Lord Brougham, the prominent Scottish jurist and political leader. Watt's final request to the Rev. Lardner was to refrain from mentioning Lord Brougham's presence at Aston Hall. Watt feared that Lord Brougham's visit would cause the townspeople to gather at Aston Hall.

Dates

Creation: 1835 September 6

Creator

Watt, James, 1769-1848 (Person)

Use Restrictions

Access to this collection is unrestricted.

Permission to publish material from this collection must be requested in writing from the Manuscripts Librarian, Milton S. Eisenhower Library, The Johns Hopkins University, 3400 North Charles Street, Baltimore, Md. 21218.

Biographical Note

James Watt, a marine engineer, was born February 5, 1769. He was the eldest son of the Scottish mechanical engineer and inventor, James Watt (1736-1819), and the successor to the factories and fortune of his father. It was the younger Watt who fitted the engines of the Caledonia, the first steamship to leave an English port (1817). Watt sailed in the Caledonia to Holland and Germany. When he returned to England, Watt continued the work to improve marine engines.

In 1789, Watt read two papers before the Manchester Literary and Philosophical Society, later published in Volume 3 of their Memoirs. The titles were: "Some Account of a Mine in which Aerated Barytes is Found" and "On the Effects Produced by Different Combination of the Terra Ponderosa Given to Animals."

James Watt was unmarried and died, June 2, 1848, at Aston Hall, Warwickshire (near Birmingham).

Extent

0.19 Cubic Feet (1 letter half-size document box)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

The collection consists of one holographic letter of James Watt to the Rev. Dionysius Lardner, dated September 6, 1835. The letter is bound and forms a single volume.