Steel Engraving, Portrait of Oliver Evans. The Watt of America, circa 1860

A visionary inventor and engineer, Oliver Evans (1755-1819) helped shape American manufacturing. In the late 1700s, Evans developed a continuous conveyor system for milling flour that revolutionized the industry and influenced the design of future automated factories. In 1804, he patented America's first high-pressure steam engine. Evans' new engine was reliable and versatile -- it was adapted for use in both manufacturing and steamboat propulsion.