ABSTRACT
The steam-engine was the single most famous technological development in Britain in the eighteenth century. Its transfer abroad began at an early stage both in the case of the Newcomen and that of the Watt engine. A transfer of technology nevertheless did take place within about four years with the building of the first French example of a Newcomen engine for mine pumping, the one at the Fresnes coal-mine in French Hainault. The introduction of the Watt engine into France was a remarkable affair, but not initially one of industrial espionage. The spread of the steam-engine abroad, whether Newcomen or Watt, and attracted little concern or anxiety in Britain. Perier set up an engineering works alongside the Paris water company's steam-engine site at Chaillot. John Wilkinson was visited by Perier even before Perier was in touch with Boulton and Watt, and several other trips were made by the Frenchman to Wilkinson's various works.
