 Papin's ideas included a description of his 1690 atmospheric steam engine, similar to that built and put into use by Thomas Newcomen in 1712, thought to be the year of Papin's death.The last surviving evidence of Papin's whereabouts came in a letter he wrote dated 23 January 1712.At the time he was destitute ("I am in a sad case") [Royal Society Archives, 1894, Vol.