On this date in history, the first steam engine in America was installed and used to pump water from a mine.
I don’t recall my original source of that claim, but at amug.org they say:
In 1755, a steam engine was first reported used in America, at a copper mine in New Barbados Neck (now North Arlington), NJ. It was imported from England by Josiah Hornblower and put to use pumping water from the mine of Colonel John Schuyler.
And at SteamTraction.FarmCollector.com, they say:
The first steam engine in America was an English Newcomen-type engine, erected in 1755 to drain a copper mine.
