Matthew Boulton (18th Century)

Born 3 September 1728, died 17 August 1809 – was an English manufacturer and business partner of James Watt. He was born in Birmingham, took over the family business of manufacturing small metal products, and started producing Boulton and Watt steam engines, which made the mechanisation of factories and mills possible.

He also founded the Soho Mint, to which he soon adapted steam power. He sought to improve the poor state of Britain’s coinage, and after several years of effort obtained a contract in 1797 to produce the first British copper coinage in a quarter century.

Read more about Matthew Boulton on Wikipedia.