Inverclyde Archives Record
Metadata
Collection |
Inverclyde Archives: Club and Society Records |
Catalogue Number |
CS1 |
Object Name |
Fonds |
Level of description |
Fonds |
Title |
Watt Club of Greenock, papers |
Date |
1827-1856 |
Creator |
Watt Club of Greenock |
Dates of Creation |
1827-1856 |
Scope & Content |
Contains minutes 1827-1854; History and Regulations of the Watt Club of Greenock, 1827; 'Memorials of the Lineage, Early Life, Education and Development of the Genius of James Watt', by George Williamson, Esq; and Book containing correspondence on Watt memorial, article on proceedings of the Anniversary Dinner of the Watt Club, abridged from the Greenock Advertiser, 24 Jan 1854 and list of subscribers for George Williamson's "Memorials". |
Extent of Description |
0.09m |
Admin/Biographical History |
The members of the club first met in the winter of 1813, and although they had at first, no specific purpose in view, beyond the desire of cultivating the friendship of each other, by spending, once in the fortnight, and hour of two in social conversation. From the institution of the Club until 1820, their Meetings took place more regularly. They met in 'The Greenock Tavern', which was later call 'The James Watt Tavern'. In 1820, the attention of the Club was drawn to James Watt, whom they felt proud in being able to claim as a Townsman. Stimulated by the merits of a man, they accordingly assumed the appellation of the 'Watt Club'. The Club then drew their attention to the house of Watt's birth. After discovering it was a house on which the Greenock Tavern was reared, they successfully changed the name of the Tavern. Anniversary dinners weld for the anniversary of Watt's birth thanks to the Club with the Chief Magistrate of Dinner presiding the first dinner in January 1821. Thanks to the Watt Club, the Town of Greenock had the honour of being the first publicly to recognise by tribute the merits of James Watt. It is unclear what happened to the Club during the two decades until 1854, when a meeting is called at the Tontine Hotel, Greenock, the first meeting after the death of their founder and President George Williamson. It was noted that Sir Michael Robert Shaw Stewart was to be President and Robert Steele, Vice President. In 1854, the Watt Club created the Watt Cairn in Greenock Cemetery, with hope of creating a world monument to Watt. The ultimate result was 'greatly disappointing' according to R. M. Smith, author of the History of Greenock. Paintings currently held in the McLean Museum of Henry Bell and John Galt were commissioned by the Watt Club. |
People |
Watt, James, 1736-1819, engineer and inventor Williamson, George, 1813-1899, solicitor |
Search Terms |
Watt Club of Greenock (est. 1813) |