Description:Matthew Boulton (1728-1809) was born in Birmingham, and followed his father into manufacturing small metal goods. He built the state-of-the-art Soho Manufactory at Handsworth, near Birmingham, and achieved great success through his partnership with James Watt which produced the Boulton-Watt steam engine. He also developed successful new techniques of minting coins, including the famous copper 'cartwheel' penny. He was a member of the Lunar Society, which also included his friends Erasmus Darwin, Josiah Wedgwood and Joseph Priestley. He died at Soho House, which is open to the public as a museum.
Stipple engraving by A. Cardon after a drawing by W. Evans taken from a painting by Sir William Beechey. Published 7th February 1812 by T. Cadell and W. Davis, Strand, London.