The Glasgow Royal Arch Lodge, No.77
06/10/1763 AD raised

The Lodge ceased to exist in 1810. A Masonic Lodge was named after him in his home town of Glasgow – Lodge James Watt, No.1215.

However, his record of membership is not to be found in the register of members held by the Grand Lodge of Scotland and therefore some explanation is required:

When a man was Initiated in a Scottish Lodge during the 18th century the names (and occasionally occupation) were meant to be sent to Grand Lodge where the details were recorded Lodge by Lodge in chronological order. Payment of one shilling was to accompanying these details. The temptation not to send details to Grand Lodge is obvious that there are numerous instances of Lodges recorded members which do not appear in the central register. This does seem to have occurred when Lodges were under financial pressure but merely had the effect of transferring financial problems to Grand Lodge. Over time Grand Lodge reacted to this situation by creating Provincial Grand Masters who lived locally and who could therefore supervise Lodges more closely. By the early 19th century no one could be considered to be a Scottish Freemason without a certificate issued by Grand Lodge on payment by the Lodge in which the individual had been Initiated.
→ The Grand Lodge of Antient Free and Accepted Masons of Scotland

Glasgow, Scotland

Lattitude: 55.8609° N
Longitude: 4.2514° W
Region: Europe

Modern Day United Kingdom

Events in 1763 MORE