Who was Matthew Boulton?
Q: Who was Matthew Boulton?
A: Matthew Boulton was an English manufacturer and the business partner of Scottish engineer James Watt. He is known for installing hundreds of Boulton & Watt steam engines in the last quarter of the 18th century, as well as founding the Soho Mint and improving Britain's coinage.
Q: What did he do with James Watt?
A: With James Watt, Matthew Boulton installed hundreds of Boulton & Watt steam engines in Britain and abroad, which made possible the mechanisation of factories and mills.
Q: When was he born?
A: Matthew Boulton was born on 3 September 1728 in Birmingham, England.
Q: What organisation did he belong to?
A: Matthew Boulon belonged to a group called the Lunar Society, which included members such as James Watt, Erasmus Darwin, Josiah Wedgwood and Joseph Priestley who met each month near the full moon to develop concepts that would later lay the groundwork for the Industrial Revolution.
Q: What did he do at his Soho Manufactory?
A: At his Soho Manufactory near Birmingham, Matthew Boulton expanded his father's small metal products business considerably by applying modern techniques to minting coins and supplying up-to-date equipment to The Royal Mint.
Q: How long did Parliament extend Watt's patent for?
A: Parliament extended Watts' patent for an additional 17 years at Matthew Boultons' request. This enabled them to market their steam engine more widely.
Q:What is his image on now?
A:Matthew Boultons' image appears alongside James Watts' on The Bank of England's new Series F £50 note
