The Watt Institution and School of Arts, Edinburgh, was an educational institution specialising in scientific and technical education. Its precursory institution was the School of Arts of Edinburgh, founded in 1821. The School of Arts was the first Mechanics institute in Britain, at first teaching classes in Chemistry and Mechanics or Natural Philosophy; its founding is linked to George Birkbeck, the founder of Birkbeck College, University of London. The first secretary of the School of Arts was the principal founder, Leonard Horner. Courses in architecture and farriery were added in the first month of teaching, and mechanical and architectural drawing in the first summer session. In 1852, after a period of dwindling funds, the school set up a public subscription fund dedicated to the memory of James Watt, an inspiration to the school; the money raised enabled to school to buy its premises, and the School changed its name to the Watt Institution and School of Arts in his honour. Classes were introduced introduced in Physiology, German, Botany, Geology, Latin, Greek, Biology, Freehand Drawing, Theory of Music, History and Economic Science. The first female students were admitted in 1869 after a campaign by Mary Burton. In 1885 the Watt Institution and School of Arts merged with the George Heriot's Trust and became the Heriot-Watt College, which still exists today.