Boulton, Matthew

(born Sept. 3, 1728, Birmingham, Warwickshire, Eng.—died Aug. 17, 1809, Birmingham) British manufacturer and engineer. With James Watt and William Murdock (1754–1839), he established the steam-engine industry by installing pumping engines to drain the Cornish tin mines. Foreseeing great industrial demand for steam power, he urged Watt to make various design improvements. Applying steam power to coining machinery, he made large quantities of coins for the British East India Co. and also supplied machinery to the Royal Mint. By 1800, almost 500 steam engines had been installed in the British Isles and abroad.

Source: Encyclopedia Britannica