Hero of Alexandria (lived c. 62 CE)

He was a mathematician and engineer of Egypt, then a part of the Roman Empire. He wrote many books on math, mechanics and logic which are still studied today. Mechanical novelties such as singing birds and puppets were his invention then. And other side he built a fire engine, a water-powered organ and first coin-operated machine.

His most famous invention is the aeolipile (world’s first steam engine). During that time it was not given so importance to it and after many many years it actually rediscovered and started as a steam engine and also automated.