Thomas Savery, 1698

Savery was granted a patent for his first design of a steam-pump, after he'd presented a working model to the Royal Society and King William III. Elated, Savery named his engine the 'Miners Friend'. But it wasn't embraced by miners for fear of explosions and death.

Although Savery’s engine had many

limitations, this was nevertheless the first

practical advancement in the actual

construction of a steam engine.