The creator of the lathe, as a mechanical device used for shaping various materials (mainly metals), is generally recognized as Henry Maudslay. Henry Maudslay, a British inventor and engineer, played a crucial role in the development of the precision lathe in the early 19th century.

and became a key tool in the Industrial Revolution.

Although similar tools for turning had existed before Maudslay, he improved and refined the existing designs, setting new standards in this field and leading to a major transformation in machine manufacturing and mechanical engineering.