Boulton & Watt facts for kids

A Smethwick engine in steam at Birmingham's Thinktank museum

Sewage pumping engine, also in Birmingham

Boulton & Watt was an important engineering company in Britain. It played a big part in the early Industrial Revolution. The company was started by Matthew Boulton from England and James Watt from Scotland.

This company designed and built steam engines. These engines were used in factories and on ships. Boulton & Watt began in 1775 near Birmingham, England. It grew to be a major maker of steam engines in the 1800s.

The steam engines made by Boulton and Watt were special. They were the first to use steam at a higher pressure than the air around us. This made the engines much more powerful. Watt's invention was a key moment in the Industrial Revolution. Their engines helped pump water in canals, mines, and for waterworks. They also powered many different machines.

The Soho Foundry: Making Engines

At first, Boulton & Watt mainly drew plans for engines. They also watched over the building of engines at customer sites. They did not make many of the parts themselves. Watt worked from his home in Birmingham. Boulton worked at his Soho Manufactory.

Over time, the company started making more and more engine parts. In 1795, they bought land near the Birmingham Canal. Here, they built a new factory just for making engines. This new factory was called the Soho Foundry. It opened in 1796.

Watt's sons, Gregory and James Jr., became very involved in running the company. By 1800, the year James Watt retired, the company had made 41 engines.

A New Generation Takes Over

James Watt retired in 1800. This was also when his main patent ended. The partnership between Boulton and Watt then passed to their sons. These were Matthew Robinson Boulton and James Watt Jr.

Soon after, William Murdoch, a long-time engineer at the company, became a partner. The company continued to do very well under their leadership.

Images for kids

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  Scientific equipment designed by Boulton and Watt. It was for the Pneumatic Institution in Bristol.

See also

In Spanish: Boulton y Watt para niños