In 1772, Watt's partner, Dr. John Roebuck, ran into financial difficulties, and Boulton, to whom he owed £1,200, accepted his two-thirds share in Watt's patent as satisfaction of the debt.
I 1772 kom Watts partner Dr. John Roebuck i finansielle vanskeligheder, og Boulton, som han skyldte £1,200, accepterede at overtage hans to-tredjedels andel i Watts patent som betaling af gælden.