How important were James Watt's contributions to the Industrial Revolution?

James Watt was an inventor and mechanical engineer whose improvements in steam engine technology drove the Industrial Revolution. Steam engines were already in existence, mainly being used to pump water out of mines. He made important changes to the design, increasing efficiency and making steam engines cheaper to run.

The steam engine helped to power the Industrial Revolution. Before steam power, most factories and mills were powered by water, wind, horse, or man. Steam power allowed for factories to be located anywhere. It also provided reliable power and could be used to power large machines.