1818:

McHack

It all began in 1818, when the Scottish scientist and inventor James Watt visited the United States. A visit by this pioneer in steam power attracted attention from a number of American notables, among them Thomas Jefferson. To mark the occasion, Jefferson organized a conference to celebrate development and innovation. Watt was asked to give the keynote address at the conference, which was called McHack in honour of the Scottish Enlightenment.

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