---
title: Watt & Boulton Steam Engine
author: Science Museum, London
source: https://www.worldhistory.org/image/17206/watt--boulton-steam-engine/
format: machine-readable-alternate
license: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/)
updated: 2023-04-20
---

# Watt & Boulton Steam Engine

_Authored by Science Museum, London_

## Image File

[![Watt & Boulton Steam Engine](https://www.worldhistory.org/uploads/images/17206.png)](https://www.worldhistory.org/uploads/images/17206.png)

## Image Caption

A Watt & Boulton steam engine, one of the key innovations of the [Industrial Revolution](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Industrial_Revolution/). Dating to 1788, this example is the oldest original rotative steam engine in the world. Designed and built by James Watt (1736-1819) and Matthew Boulton (1728-1809), the engine used far less fuel than earlier models created by other inventors and so could be used almost anywhere to power factory and agricultural machines of all kinds.

[Science](https://www.worldhistory.org/science/) Museum, London.

## Cite This Work

### APA
London, S. M. (2023, March 20). Watt & Boulton Steam Engine. *World History Encyclopedia*. <https://www.worldhistory.org/image/17206/watt--boulton-steam-engine/>
### Chicago
London, Science Museum,. "Watt & Boulton Steam Engine." *World History Encyclopedia*, March 20, 2023. <https://www.worldhistory.org/image/17206/watt--boulton-steam-engine/>.
### MLA
London, Science Museum,. "Watt & Boulton Steam Engine." *World History Encyclopedia*, 20 Mar 2023, <https://www.worldhistory.org/image/17206/watt--boulton-steam-engine/>.

## License & Copyright

[Original image](https://collection.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk/objects/co50948/rotative-steam-engine-by-boulton-and-watt-1788-beam-engine-steam-engine) by **Science Museum, London**. Submitted by [Mark Cartwright](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/markzcartwright/ "User Page: Mark Cartwright"), published on 20 March 2023. The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/deed.en). This license lets others remix, tweak, and build upon this content non-commercially, as long as they credit the author and license their new creations under the identical terms. When republishing on the web a hyperlink back to the original content source URL must be included. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms.