James Brown was born in Dundee in 1790. Early in life he met James Watt and took a position at Soho engineering works, Birmingham. He accompanied James Watt the younger in the Caledonia steam vessel, the first steamer to ascend the Rhine as far as Coblenz, in 1817. In 1821 he acted as chief engineer of the James Watt, towing the Royal Sovereign, with his majesty George IV, into Leith harbour. As the London agent of Boulton,Watt and Co in the 1820s he secured a considerable business for the company, particularly with the post office. He played a prominent role with various steam packet companies and designed many vessels, including the first steam vessels introduced by the government for carrying mail, and also the first steam engines used by the navy. As head of the Drawing Office and London Department he schemed lines and arrangements of the first fleet of steamers between Edinburgh and London, and Gravesend and London. From 1840-61 he was a partner of Boulton, Watt and Co.
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The records were gifted to Heriot-Watt College in 1932, by the family of James Brown. They were subsequently inherited by Heriot-Watt University, as the College's successor body
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Records relating to James Brown
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Records, publications and artefacts relating to James Watt (GB 582 HWUA JW)
Birmingham City Archives: Letter books, ledgers, cash books, journals, order, pattern, casting, engine, fitting and wages books, inventories etc., 1762-1895 (Reference: Boulton & Watt Collection)
Birmingham City Archives: Letters to Boulton & Watt from Peter Ewart, 1790-1833 (Reference: Boulton & Watt Collection)
Memorandum of Agreement between James Brown, Engineer of Soho, and Matthew Robinson Boulton and James Watt the Younger of Soho, Engineers and co-partners, to take on Brown as their agent and engineer for five years, 9 April
In addition to the drawings described in the title of this volume, the last two pages contain a drawing of a fourteen horse power engine. The volume also contains obituary notices of James Brown, and Peter Duncan Esq., pasted inside the front cover.
James Watt slide valve; image taken from a slide of a Blast Cylinder of the East Indian Iron Co.; HMS Deerhound; Steam Slide; air and steam figures.
Describes the voyage of the Caledonia steam vessel, the first steamer to ascend the Rhine as far as Coblenz.
Describes the voyage of the Caledonia steam vessel, the first steamer to ascend the Rhine as far as Coblenz.
Notes [by James Brown ?] in reference to Dr. Dionysius Lardner's Letter to James Watt, discussing the evaporation of marine boilers; experiments on Boat Boilers to improve construction and reduce expenditure on fuel; and details of the engines and tonnage of Soho Steam Vessel, The Monarch, The Caledonia, The Dundee and The Perth'. The Reverend Dr. Lardner, of University College London, was a controversialist on the subject of steam navigation.
James Brown to James Watt, 24 June 1821, on boiler design and related subjects, in unnamed ship.
James Watt to James Brown, 1 July 1821 Reply to above. Names ship as City of Edinburgh.
James Watt to James Brown, 15 July 1821. Reply to Brown's of 6th inst. [not attached].
[James Brown] to James Watt, 8 October 1840, offering his congratulations and best wishes on James Watt's succession to the Soho works on the retirement of Matthew Boulton.
James Brown to M. R. Boulton, undated [c.1840]. Regarding Boulton's retirement from the firm.
James Watt Jun. to unidentified, April 1841. Regarding new partners [incl. James Brown] in Boulton & Watt.
James Brown to James Watt, 30 September 1847. Covering note for abstract of journal on board the 'James Watt' for royal voyage, 1822 [not attached].
James Watt to James Brown, 1 October 1847. Note of thanks for above.
Great Exhibition of 1851. Features 'James Watt & Co. (Late Boulton, Watt & Co.) of London, and Soho, Birmingham; manufacturers of marine, land & pumping engines, sugar mills, & mint machinery'. Endorsed on rear "G[rea]t. Exhibition - description of our work [?]" [written by James Brown ?] Leaflet describes engines and their specifications as displayed at the Exhibition.
Three stereoscopic slides showing Boulton and Watt, partners, workmen, with engine, and Soho Foundry. [c.1860] Taken when Brown was employed with the company, and may include him.
The late Peter Ewart Esq., [1767 - 1842] by William Charles Henry, MD FRS GS, published by the Manchester Literary and Philosophical Society, Manchester, 1844.
Inscribed on flyleaf ' Jno.Thomas Junr. from James Watt Esqr., April 30th 1844' . Plus insert of sketch drawing of an unidentified vessel.
Ewart worked with Boulton and Watt from c. 1790. He was responsible for planning and erecting new works at the Soho Foundry in 1795-96. When he left the company Peter Ewart went into the manufacturing industry in Manchester, and in May 1835 at the age of 68 was appointed by the Admiralty to the new position of Chief Engineer and Inspector of Machinery at the Woolwich Steam Factory. He died as a result of an accident when a chain broke during a hoisting operation at Woolwich in May 1842.