Editing James Watt (section)

===Personality===
Watt combined theoretical knowledge of science with the ability to apply it practically. The chemist [[Humphry Davy]] said of him, "Those who consider James Watt only as a great practical mechanic form a very erroneous idea of his character; he was equally distinguished as a [[natural philosopher]] and a chemist, and his inventions demonstrate his profound knowledge of those sciences, and that peculiar characteristic of genius, the union of them for practical application".<ref>{{cite book|last=Carnegie|first=Andrew|title=James Watt|url=http://www.history.rochester.edu/steam/carnegie/ch10.html|year=1905|publisher=Doubleday, Page and Company|chapter=10|url-status=dead|archive-url=http://arquivo.pt/wayback/20090708035219/http://www.history.rochester.edu/steam/carnegie/ch10.html|archive-date=8 July 2009}}</ref>

He was greatly respected by other prominent men of the [[Industrial Revolution]].<ref>Carnegie, chap. XI: ''Watt, the Man''.</ref> He was an important member of the [[Lunar Society of Birmingham]], and was a much sought-after conversationalist and companion, always interested in expanding his horizons.<ref>Hills, vol I, pp. 42–43.</ref> His personal relationships with his friends and business partners were always congenial and long-lasting.

According to Lord Liverpool (Prime Minister of the UK),<ref>{{cite book|last1=Laidler|first1=Keith J.|title=To Light such a Candle|date=1993|publisher=Oxford University Press|page=18}}
</ref>
<blockquote>A more excllent and amikable man in all the relations of life I believe never existed.</blockquote>

Watt was a prolific correspondent. During his years in [[Cornwall]], he wrote long letters to Boulton several times per week. He was averse to publishing his results in, for example, the ''[[Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society]]'' however, and instead preferred to communicate his ideas in [[patents]].<ref>{{Cite book| last=Smiles| first=Samuel| title=Lives of Boulton and Watt: A History of the Invention and Introduction of the Steam Engine| url=https://archive.org/stream/livesofengineers04smiluoft#page/286/mode/2up | publisher=John Murray| place=London| year=1865 | page=286}}</ref> He was an excellent [[Drafter|draughtsman]].

[[File:James Watt's letters from the Science Museum Library & Archives in Wroughton.jpg|thumb|James Watt's letters from the [[Science Museum at Wroughton|Science Museum Library & Archives in Wroughton]], near Swindon]]

He was a rather poor businessman, and especially hated bargaining and negotiating terms with those who sought to use the steam engine. In a letter to [[William Small]] in 1772, Watt confessed that "he would rather face a loaded cannon than settle an account or make a bargain."<ref>Roll, p. 20</ref> Until he retired, he was always very concerned about his financial affairs, and was something of a worrier. His health was often poor and he suffered frequent nervous headaches and depression. When he retired in 1800, he became a rich enough man to pass the business on to his sons.