5 Things to Know About Thomas Newcomen

Thomas Newcomen (1663 - 1729) introduced to the world his invention at work in 1712 in Dudley Castle. His invention inspired others to develop it further allowing man to muster power bigger industries dawning the industrial revolution. But who was this fellow? Here are 5 things to know about Thomas Newcomen:

Newcomen House

1. Came from a Persecuted Sect

Little information turned up for the background of Thomas Newcomen. Born in 1663 possibly and baptized on February 28 1664, this native of Dartmouth, Devonshire came from a family of Baptists. This explained much for this monumental man’s mysterious beginnings.

During the 17th century, sects deviating from the teachings of the state-sponsored Anglican Church came to be collectively known as Nonconfromist. Along with Quakers, Methodist, among others, the Baptist belonged in this collection and suffered discrimination. Thus, the Newcomens lived laying low.

This background also prevented him from entering a university which banned Nonconformist. Nevertheless, it did not stop Thomas from having a basic education and learning through experience. He also managed to become a preacher to a small congregation on the side.

Newcomen Engine Diagram

2. Worked in an Industry with Interest in Mining

While being a Baptist preacher as a side hustle, Thomas Newcomen’s main source of income came from being an iron monger. Ironmongers worked part as a blacksmith and a travelling salesman. They forged their own iron tools and then travelled to sell them. 

In this way, Newcomen learned the supply chain of his business. He familiarized with the iron and coal industry, both of which came from mining. Through his trade, he learned of the troubles of mining, mainly flooding.

As the demand for the supplies of iron and coal expanded in the 17th and early 18th century, miners dugged ever deeper. They thus began to hit underground water resevoirs that caused flooding in the mines.

Flooding cost a lot to solve. A mine owner in Warwickshire, for instance, employed 500 horse just to raise buckets of water one after another. In unavailability of horses, miners themselves hoisted buckets into the surface. It cost time and labour just to clear the mines constantly. This problem reached Newcomen, who for mysterious reason, made it his crusade to solve.

Flooded Mine in Wales, 1870s

3. Had the Basic Knowledge to Work on Engine…or Not?

For a man with only basic knowledge, hands on experience, and no higher learning, where did Newcomen started? Once again this too remained an enigma. It even gave birth to an argument to the extent of Newcomen’s know-how.

Several developments transpired during his time. For instance, the Marquess of Worcester and the Frenchman Denis Pepin toyed with steam using it to move objects, such as a piston. In 1698, Thomas Savery filed a patent for his so-called “fire-engine” that pumped out water, which later named “Miner’s Friend. Albeit this Miner’s Friend demonstrated several flaws and danger that led to its failed proliferation.

Some argued Newcomen learned of these developments, but other do not and believed on sheer luck. For instance, John Robison writing for the Encyclopedia Britannica indicated that Newcomen corresponded with Robert Hooke, a scientist, who suggested Papin and Worcester’s works to Newcomen. Moreover, Savery lived within 20 miles of Dartmouth, hence some speculated Newcomen worked first hand with Miner’s Friend.

On the other side, some believed in Newcomen’s sheer luck. Rhys Jenkins, President of the Newcomen Society, discredited Robison’s article in 1936 claiming that the Britannica contributor misread Newton for Newcomen. Furthermore, Marten Triewald, who worked with the engine from 1716 onwards credited the engine’s development to sheer luck. 

The extent of Newcomen’s knowledge remained an open question and a low key mystery for one the most significant periods in history.

Portrait of a Mathematician, said to be Robert Hooke

4. His Engine Developed from a Previous Engine

From 1680s to 1700s, Newcomen worked with his fellow Baptist and plumber (some said a glazier) John Calley. The journey they worked through trial and error, and if to believe Triewald, stumbled upon jackpot through an accident and sheer luck.The end product became known as the atmospheric engine or the Newcomen Engine. 

It provided many advantages in comparison to the Savery engine. The Savery Engine relied on 2 receivers which collected steam, and through manual application of cold water, triggered condensation then a vacuum that sucks water from the mine. The engine needed some labor, lacked capability in pumping from deep mines, and posted danger whenever increasing its capacity through increasing heat.

Newcomen Engine solved several of this problem. It composed a beam with one side connected to a pump and another to piston placed inside a cylinder. The cylinder connected to a boiler and a fire stack.

The engine utilized condensation, vacuum, and atmospheric pressure. The cylinder filled with steam raising the piston up, then a valve below close while a sprinkler introduce cold water triggering condensation that turned steam into liquid. The change resulted into a vacuum below the piston and atmospheric pressure on top of it brings it down and hoisted the pump othe other side. (If this sound confusing, try this video in YouTube:) It offered a safer and a powerful alternative to the Savery Engine.

Diagram of the Savery Engine

5. Failed to Benefit from his Invention

In 1712, Newcomen and Calley’s decades of hard work as well as trial and errors paid off when their atmospheric engine successfully operated in a coal mine in Dudley Castle. Though, the engine cost a lot of coal to operate, it did not stop from spreading across England and beyond. By 1720s the engine started to be used in the mining regions of England, as well as the Holy Roman Empire and Sweden.

Unfortunately, Newcomen failed to profit completely from his project. First, he failed to obtain a patent as the previous issued to Savery covered a broad description which stated, “vessels or engines for raising water on occasioning motion to an sort of millworks by the implement force of fire.” Hence, Newcomen settled for a partnership with Savery.

Furthermore, mystery once again hunted the post-1712 life of Newcomen. The Baptist ironmonger continued in his original trade to which Rhys Jenkins hypothesized, suggested that wealth failed to come after his invention. He passed away in 1729.

If he did failed to prosper after his invention, a tragedy for a man who introduced an engine that triggered developments that allowed humanity to produce enormous power that equalled million of men within a century. His invention brought the Industrial revolution that changed humanity forever, and yet its inventor failed to benefit within his lifetime. 

See also:

Thomas Newcomen

Denis Papin