James Watt significantly improved the steam engine in the 18th century, making it more efficient and practical. His enhancements included a separate condenser, which saved energy and boosted output. Though he didn’t invent the steam engine, Watt’s version powered the Industrial Revolution.
It transformed manufacturing, mining, and transportation by replacing manual labor with mechanized processes. Watt's innovations also influenced future engineering designs, and the unit of power, “watt,” is named in his honor