Hornblower, Jonathan

Jonathan Hornblower, (born July 5, 1753, Chacewater, Cornwall, Eng.—died Feb. 23, 1815, Penryn, Cornwall), British inventor of the double-beat valve, the first reciprocating compound steam engine.

Hornblower’s invention, patented in 1781, was a steam engine with two cylinders, a significant contribution to efficiency. When Hornblower applied to Parliament for an extension of his patent in 1792, the firm of James Watt (Boulton & Watt) challenged his application, claiming infringement of their own patent. Hornblower was eventually forced to withdraw his request, thereby losing the opportunity to further develop the compound engine. The principle fell out of sight until it was rediscovered in 1804 by Arthur Woolf, of Great Britain. Hornblower patented other inventions, a rotative engine and a steam wheel, or steam engine, and amassed a fortune in engineering.