Thomas Savery (17th Century)

Thomas Savery (c. 1650–1715) was an English inventor, born at Shilstone, a manor house near Modbury, Devon, England.

On 2 July 1698, Savery patented an early steam engine, “A new invention for raiseing of water and occasioning motion to all sorts of mill work by the impellent force of fire, which will be of great use and advantage for drayning mines, serveing townes with water, and for the working of all sorts of mills where they have not the benefitt of water nor constant windes.” He demonstrated it to the Royal Society on 14 June 1699.

Read more about Thomas Savery on Wikipedia.