Grade 4: New York State History and Government Unit 4: Change Comes to New York State Lesson 4: Inventors and Entrepreneurs
Robert Fulton
Robert Fulton was born in a farmhouse outside of Lancaster, Pennsylvania in 1765. At the age of 18, he left home for Philadelphia, hoping to make his fortune as an artist. The Revolutionary War was over and Philadelphia’s most important citizen was Benjamin Franklin, just returned from Europe. After painting Franklin's portrait, Fulton is said to have won his friendship and a letter of introduction to the artistic community of London, where he moved in 1786.
After exhibiting in the Royal Gallery in 1791, Fulton suddenly abandoned painting for the "useful arts." His first efforts were in canal construction, but by 1793 he was designing steam- powered ships. After failing to impress the British Navy, which had its own designs, Fulton moved to France (1797). There he began working on submarines, for the French Navy to use against Britain. In 1800, Fulton himself piloted his "Nautilus" for 17 minutes in 25 feet of water. But, the French Navy was not convinced to commit to the "plunging boat."
In 1804, Fulton returned to England, where he began to build submarines for the British Navy to use against the French. These included "torpedoes," (These were floating mines that were launched, rather than propelling themselves.) and in a field test Fulton blew a 300-ton ship in half.
When he returned to the US after 19 years, in 1806, Fulton was considered a hero of the modern age. After he sunk a ship in a demonstration in New York Harbor, Congress sent him $5,000 for further experiments. President Jefferson requested Fulton's help in building canals for the new territory of the Louisiana Purchase. Fulton said no: he had decided to solve the steamboat problem once and for all.
Fulton began a twofold effort to design a steamboat that would work. He contracted with James Watt's firm in England for a special steam engine, with a number of improvements of his own. He also used models to develop the ideal shape for his ship. "Fulton's Folly" was flat-bottomed, wall-sided, and with a square rear end, with paddle wheels midway along each side. Watt's engine was installed just in front of the wheels. The ship had fairly luxurious sleeping berths, a saloon, and a ladies' lounge. With later improvements, the total cost was about $20,000.
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Fulton heard "a number of sarcastic remarks" about his efforts. However, on August 17, 1807, the ship made its first voyage, from New York to Albany (32 hours) and back (30 hours). Finally, Fulton could declare, "The power of propelling boats by steam is now fully proved." Not content with scientific success, Fulton put "The North River Steamboat of Clermont" into commercial service along the same route on September 4th (cost: $7 one-way). The service ran without a hitch until mid-November, when ice in the river became a problem.
Fulton obtained a patent (a legal approval so no one could steal his idea) for his steamboat (granted in just 42 days!) in 1809, with a second the next year for improvements. More importantly, the State of New York granted him an exclusive right to steamboat transport on the Hudson River. Other people ignored the patent which actually resulted in games of "chicken" and collisions in the river. Years later, the courts said he could not be the only one to have steamboats on the river.
Fulton's last major undertaking was the world's first steam-powered warship. The "Demologos" was 300 feet long, 200 feet wide, 120-horsepower, and double-hulled; with the paddles between the inner and outer hulls, 44 guns on deck, and (slightly successful) underwater cannons. Although Fulton earned his last patents for this ship in 1813, the US Navy never built it.
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In February of 1815, Fulton died from complications of a winter chest cold. In response, both houses of the US Congress wore mourning, and businesses in New York City closed for a day. Fulton the engineer was responsible for many new methods of construction, and Fulton the entrepreneur first made steamboat transportation a reality.
Adapted from http://web.mit.edu/invent/iow/fulton.html
1. What skills did Fulton develop as a young man? How do you think this skill led to his interest and ability in boat design.
2. What boat-building experience did Fulton gain while living in France and England?
3. How did the steamboat work?
4. How fast could the Clermont travel on the Hudson River?
5. What did Fulton do after his steamboat became a success?
Read the following newspaper accounts of the first successful trip of Fulton’s steamboat, the Clermont. The second account was written by Fulton himself and directed to the newspaper’s editors. After you read the accounts answer the questions below.
Mr. Fulton’s ingenious [original] Steam Boat, invented with a view to the navigation of the Mississippi from New-Orleans upwards, sails to-day from the North River, near the State Prison, to Albany. The velosity [sic] of the Steam Boat is calculated at four miles a hour; it is said that it will make a progress of two against the current of the Mississippi; and if so it will certainly be a very valuable acquisition [addition] to the commerce of the Western States.
New York American Citizen, August 17, 1807 Courtesy of the New York State Library
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New York, August 20. To the Editor of the American Citizen:
Sir,
I arrived this afternoon at 4 o’clock, in the steam boat, from Albany. As the success of my experiment gives me great hope that such boats may be rendered of much importance to my country, to prevent erroneous [inaccurate] opinions, and give some satisfaction to the friends of useful improvements, you will have the goodness to publish the following statement of facts:
I left New-York on Monday at 1 o’clock, and arrived at Clermont, the seat of Chancellor Livingston, at 1 o’clock on Tuesday, time 24 hours, distance 110 miles; on Wednesday I departed from the Chancellor’s at 9 in the morning, and arrived at Albany at 5 in the afternoon, distance 40 miles, time 8 hours; the sum of this is 150 miles in 32 hours, equal near 5 miles an hour.
On Thursday, at 9 o’clock in the morning, I left Albany, and arrived at the Chancellor’s at 6 in the evening; I started from thence [there] at 7, and arrived at New-York on Friday at 4 in the afternoon; time 30 hours, space run through 150 miles, equals 5 miles an hour. Throughout the whole way my going and returning the wind was ahead; no advantage could be drawn from my sails – the whole has, therefore, been performed by the power of the steam engine.
I am, Sir, Your most obedient, Robert Fulton.
Courtesy of the New York State Library
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