N the 1700s, James Watt caused a revolution in transportation by improving

In the 1700s, James Watt caused a revolution in transportation by improving steam engine technology.

He was a Scottish inventor and mechanical engineer. He made improvements on Thomas Newcomen's steam engine that was patented in 1698 and widely in use at the time of Watt's birth (1736).

It all started when Watt was given a model Newcomen engine to repair. He realized it was very inefficient and he began to find ways to improve its performance. He designed a separating condensing chamber for the engine to avoid huge losses of steam. He patented his improvements in 1769.

A unit of measurement of electrical and mechanical power - the watt - is named in his honor.