See Also: Newcomen, Thomas(encyclopedia)
Kyd, Thomas(encyclopedia)
More, Sir Thomas(dictionary)
St Thomas(dictionary)
Thomas(2)(dictionary)
Thomas, R S(dictionary)
thomas(medicine)
Air St Thomas(tourism)
Air St. Thomas(tourism)
Thomas(1)(dictionary)

Newcomen, Thomas (sh)




born Feb. 28, 1663, Dartmouth, Devon, Eng.
died Aug. 5, 1729, London

British engineer.

In 1712 he built his atmospheric steam engine, a precursor of James Watt's engine. In the Newcomen engine, atmospheric pressure pushed the piston down after the condensation of steam had created a vacuum in the cylinder. Newcomen engines were used for some years in the draining of mines and in raising water to power waterwheels.