Enlightenment · Europe · Science

1782

Watt Patents Rotary Motion

1782

Watt added sun-and-planet gears to his steam engine, converting reciprocating pumping motion into rotary drive. His factories in Birmingham could now turn mill wheels. Steam was no longer just lifting water out of mines; it was spinning shafts. The direct line from Watt's workshop to Manchester's cotton mills runs through this patent.

More from 1782 Enlightenment

In context

Also in 1782 (3 other events on record)

Rama I Founds Bangkok and the Chakri Dynasty · Southeast Asia · Politics
Preliminary Peace of Paris · North America · Politics
Battle of the Saintes · North America · War

Before and after in Europe

Before: 1781: Joseph II Abolishes Serfdom in Habsburg Lands
After: June 8, 1783: Laki Eruption in Iceland

Before and after in Science

Before: March 13, 1781: Herschel Discovers Uranus
After: November 21, 1783: First Manned Balloon Flight

Era

Enlightenment (1651–1800), one of 696 events from that era on Saeculum.