Historical review of Mechanical engineering:

Mechanical engineering is the branch of engineering concerned with the

design, construction and operation of machinery. It is one of the oldest and
broadest of the engineering disciplines. Scope of mechanical engineering is quite
wide. It finds applications in many fields. Mechanical engineers perform a variety
of tasks starting from design to management of machines and equipment. They
also perform supportive role in other engineering disciplines.

Engineering is as old as the human civilization, although the word ‘engineer’

came into existence. Our life is very much dependent on engineers and everyone
has a feel of engineering.

Mechanical engineering is concerned with decreasing or excluding physical

effort of humans or domestic animals with the help of tools and/or machines. In
that sense, mechanical engineering has been in existence almost since the ancient
man was born on the Earth; tools in very crude form must have been used by the
ancient man. Wheel was invented a few millennia before Christ, and theory of
lever was proposed a few centuries before Christ. However, up to nineteenth
century, the distinction between science and engineering was blurred. Different
disciplines of engineering did not have separate identity. Mechanical engineering
emerged as separate strong discipline of engineering in nineteenth century. The
Institution of Engineers was formed in 1847 in UK. Today, mechanical
engineering is prospering along with its descendants like production engineering,
industrial engineering, manufacturing engineering, mechatronics, automobile
engineering, and aerospace engineering.

Industrial Revolution, in modern history, the process of change from a farming

and handicraft economy to one dominated by industry and machine manufacturing.

Since there is not any perfect answer of this. But according to many
more resources “Sir James watt” is the father of mechanical engineering.
Also Leornado Da vinci (1452- 1519), we can say him as a father
of mechanical engineering as he has invented so many instruments
besides his famous painting Monalisa.
James Watt (1736–1819),
He is the eminent Scot and great scientist, who so improved the
imperfect steam engine of his day that he may be termed the Father of
the Steam Age and the Founder of Mechanical Engineering, was born at
Greenock on January 19th in the year 1736.

Stephen P. Timoshenko (1878 -1972)

He is known as a teacher, writer, researcher, and advisor, and He is
considered to be the father of modern engineering mechanics.

Reference:

1] en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mechanical_engineering

2] Uday Shanker Dixit, Manjuri Hazarika, J. Paulo Davim; A Brief History of

Mechanical Engineering, 1e, 2017, Springer