Tribute to James Watt by his close friend Lord Francis Jeffrey.
Date: Published in 1839.
Publication: Life of James Watt, by F Arago, 3rd edition, Pages 199-206.
James Watt's improvements on the steam engine - or as Lord Jeffrey states, his virtual 'invention' of it - led to great advances in industrial production and distribution.
Jeffrey's tribute gives some insight into the excitement felt in the 19th century about the prospect of technological progress. It also describes Watt's character and personality, praising his astonishing memory and kindness.
It ends with Jeffrey's assertion that Watt died without a single enemy.
This eulogium (eulogy) was taken for Arago's biography of James Watt from Encyclopaedia Britannica. At the time of writing it, Lord Jeffrey was editor of the Edinburgh Review.
The 'Life of James Watt' was published in Edinburgh by Adam and Charles Black.