Newcomen, Thomas

Newcomen, Thomas (1663-1729), inventor, b. Dartmouth, Devon, England.

Thomas Newcomen produced the first practical steam engine. He put it into use at Tipton, Staffordshire, in 1712, pumping water from the workings of the Earl of Dudley's coal mine. It remained in use there for over thirty years.

By trade, Newcomen was an ironmonger. He had spent ten years experimenting with steam engines.

One of Newcomen's steam engines can be seen today in the Science Museum, London.