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Matthew Boulton:
Engineer
Matthew Boulton’s energy led him to extend his economic activities. For years,
Matthew Boulton had agitated for an assay office so that he could have his
silver and gold products stamped in Birmingham to indicate the quality
of metal, instead of being sent to other towns. In 1773 Birmingham’s
Assay Office was established.
In 1775 Boulton and Watt entered into a
partnership to build and market Watt’s steam pump. They continued to
collaborate in producing Watt’s other inventions, assisted by William
Murdock, one of Matthew Boulton’s engineers.
After 1788
Matthew Boulton developed new
coining presses and ways of making coins more difficult to
counterfeit, producing the first modern coins with diagonal “reeding”
along the edges. In 1795 the Soho Foundry in Smethwick was created,the
first purpose-built plant to manufacture steam engines.
By the time of his death in 1809, Matthew Boulton together with the innovative
individuals he had gathered around him had pioneered the British
engineering industry. |
