To the Editors: Not to niggle, but Bill McKibben cites one of the mistakes in history that becomes history itself, by repetition: “Vaclav Smil has pointed out that although James Watt developed the coal-powered steam engine in 1776…” Watt did not invent or develop the steam engine in 1776. The coal-powered steam engine was developed in 1712 by Thomas Newcomen.
Source : Watt Nonsense
