Thomas Newcomen

Thomas Newcomen (; February 1664 – 5 August 1729) was an English inventor, creator of the atmospheric engine in 1712, Baptistpreacher by calling and ironmonger by trade.

He was born in Dartmouth, in Devon, England, to a merchant family and baptized at St. Saviour's Church on 28 February 1664. In those days, flooding in coal and tin mines was a major problem. Newcomen was soon engaged in trying to improve ways to pump out the water from such mines. His ironmonger's business specialised in designing, manufacturing and selling tools for the mining industry.