Watt's First Experiment' , 18th century. James Watt (1736-1819) Scottish engineer, as a boy experimenting with the tea-kettle at the dining table of his childhood home at Greenock. In the left background is his father's assistant with a client in the carpenter's shop. Watt made great improvements to the steam engine introducing, among other things, a separate condenser and the centrifugal or flyball governor. The Standard (SI unit of power, the Watt, is named for him. Engraving after the picture by Marcus Stone (1840-1921) British painter and illustrator. (c1870). Copperplate engraving.