Chang Yŏngsil (born 1400)
Born 1400 CE.
Chang Yŏngsil (Korean: 장영실; Hanja: 蔣英實; pronounced [t͡ɕɐŋ jʌŋɕiɭ]; ? – after 1442) was a Korean mechanical engineer, scientist, and inventor during the Joseon dynasty. He was born to a mother who was a government-registered courtesan (관기; 官妓) and a father of Yuan dynasty descent. Although Chang was born a nobi, King Sejong gave him a court-technician position in the royal court. Chang's inventions, such as the ch'ŭgugi (the rain gauge) and the water gauge, highlight the technological advancements of the Joseon dynasty.
Text from the Wikipedia article Chang_Yŏngsil, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.