# Canonical recap data for Steam Engine Patent Granted Newcomen (1712)
# Source: https://recap.at/1712/newcomen-steam-engine
# Format: YAML 1.2 (UTF-8). Generated at request time.
slug: newcomen-steam-engine
canonicalUrl: "https://recap.at/1712/newcomen-steam-engine"
title: Steam Engine Patent Granted Newcomen
subtitle: Thomas Newcomen's atmospheric engine provided the first practical mechanical pump and paved the way for the Industrial Revolution's mechanization.
recapType: global_event
eventStatus: concluded
startDate: 1712-01-01
datePrecision: year
year: 1712
decade: 1710
country:
name: England
slug: england
summaryShort: A steam engine is a heat engine that performs mechanical work using steam as its working fluid. The steam engine uses the force produced by steam pressure to push a piston back and forth inside a cylinder. This pushing force can be transformed by a connecting rod and crank into rotational force for work. The term “stea
summaryLong: A steam engine is a heat engine that performs mechanical work using steam as its working fluid. The steam engine uses the force produced by steam pressure to push a piston back and forth inside a cylinder. This pushing force can be transformed by a connecting rod and crank into rotational force for work. The term “steam engine” is normally applied to reciprocating engines, although some authorities have also referred to the steam turbine and devices such as Hero's aeolipile as “steam engines”. The essential feature of steam engines is that they are external combustion engines, where the working fluid is separated from the combustion products. The ideal thermodynamic cycle used to analyze this process is called the Rankine cycle. In general usage, the term “steam engine” can refer to either complete steam plants, such as railway steam locomotives and portable engines, or may refer to the piston or turbine machinery alone, as in the beam engine and stationary steam engine.
heroImageUrl: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e5/Steam_locomotive_gear_%28J%C5%BD_06-018%3B_Slovenia%29.jpg/1280px-Steam_locomotive_gear_%28J%C5%BD_06-018%3B_Slovenia%29.jpg"
heroImageCredit: Wikipedia · "Steam engine"
importance: 84
sourceConfidence: 75
keyFacts: []
timeline: []
sources:
- url: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steam_engine"
  title: Steam engine
  provider: Wikipedia
related: []
categories:
- tech-launch
metaDescription: A steam engine is a heat engine that performs mechanical work using steam as its working fluid. The steam engine uses the force produced by steam pressure to pu
wikidataQid: Q12760
archiveSnapshots:
- url: "https://web.archive.org/web/20260627220517/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steam_engine"
  capturedAt: 2026-06-27
  label: Steam engine
  originalUrl: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steam_engine"
taxonomy:
domain: technological
eventTypes:
- tech_launch
- scientific_breakthrough
canonicalClasses:
- creation
- transformation
impactRadius: global
velocity: gradual
predictability: scheduled
intentionality: planned
domainCoupling: multi_domain
lifecycleClass: birth
