Matthew BOULTON FRS (Fellow of the Royal Society), born in Birmingham 3 September 1728 and died 17 August 1809, was an English manufacturer and business partner of Scottish engineer James WATT. Matthew BOULTON was the son of a Birmingham manufacturer of small metal products who died when BOULTON was 31. By then BOULTON had managed the business for several years, and thereafter expanded it considerably, consolidating operations at the Soho Manufactory, built by him near Birmingham. At Soho, he adopted the latest techniques, branching into silver plate, ormolu and other decorative arts. He spent much of his time in London and elsewhere, promoting his goods. He arranged to present a sword to Prince Edward, and the gift so interested the Prince's older brother, George, Prince of Wales, the future King George III, that he ordered one for himself. Among BOULTON's most successful products were mounts for small Wedgwood products such as plaques, cameo brooches and buttons in the distinctive ceramics, notably jasper ware, for which Wedgwood's firm, founded by his friend Josiah WEDGWOOD, remains well known. The mounts of these articles, many of which have survived, were made of ormolu or cut steel, which had a jewel-like gleam. BOULTON had turned his attention to coinage in the mid-1780s - they were just another small metal product like those he manufactured.