Thomas Newcomen was an English inventor born in 1663, best known for developing the first practical steam engine. His invention, created in 1712, was designed to pump water out of mines, significantly improving mining efficiency during the Industrial Revolution. Newcomen's steam engine operated using steam pressure to create a vacuum, which allowed it to lift water. Although it was later improved upon by inventors like James Watt, Newcomen's design laid the groundwork for future advancements in steam technology and played a crucial role in the evolution of industrial machinery.