Boulton

Boulton, Matthew, English engineer and manufacturer (1728-1809). Born at Birmingham, he succeeded to his father's important business, as stamper and worker in metal, and having discovered a new method of inlaying steel, he founded his afterwards famous factory at Soho, near Birmingham. Seven years afterwards he began to use steam, and went into partnership with James Watt. The two together made many improvements in engine-building, and they applied steam to the working of an engine for striking medals and coining money. Very soon they were employed in minting silver and copper for the East India Company, for Sierra Leone, and others, and their principle was adopted at the Tower Mint. Boulton had also an important foundry at Smethwick for making the different parts of steam-engines. Paul I., of Russia, commissioned him to supply St. Petersburg with all apparatus necessary for two minting-houses. In 1773 he discovered a method of mechanically engraving two-coloured pictures. He was a member of the Royal Societies of London and Edinburgh, and did much, both by his own efforts and discoveries, and by his generous patronage, to advance mechanical knowledge and practice.