STEVENS, ROBERT LIVINGSTON (1787-1856), American mechanical engineer, was born at New York City on Oct. 18, 1787, the son of John Stevens (q.v.) whose mechanical ability he inherited. Whereas the father spent most of his thought on the improvement of motive-power and machinery of steam boats, the son made many advances in construction, strengthening hulls, reducing weight, distributing strain and improving the lines to gain speed. He designed the false bow, which, when first intro duced on the "New Philadelphia," enabled that steamer to break previous records and be the first of Hudson river steamers to go from Albany to New York during daylight. With this steamer and the "North America," the Stevens family inaugurated a day line on the Hudson. In 1822 he built the ferryboat "Hoboken" on modern lines and introduced the piled slip which directed the boat's entrance to the landing-place.
In 1830 he was made first president of the Camden and Amboy railway and went to England to inspect equipment already in use there. On the outward voyage he designed the "T" rail with a broad base, long known as the Stevens, or American rail, and now universally used. He contracted in England for Soo tons of such rails, the first made, and also placed an order with the Stephen sons for a locomotive made according to his specifications. This
was the famous "John Bull" which he brought to America on his return, and which is now in the Smithsonian Institution. He made many improvements on railway locomotives, introducing the pilot truck in 1832, the bogie truck shortly afterwards, and, finally, using eight instead of four or six wheels in order to promote adhesion to the rails and drawing power. When stone blocks could not be furnished fast enough for his road-bed he resorted to logs laid crosswise with broken stone and gravel between and discovered that he had found a bed more serviceable and comfortable than any known previously. He devised spikes "six inches long with heads" to hold the rails in place on the logs. As a recreation Stevens took up yachting, and in 1844 he designed the "Maria," for twenty years the swiftest yacht afloat. Later he designed the "America" for his brother, John Cox Stevens, who with it defeated all English challengers, and founded the America's Cup races. He died at Hoboken, New Jersey, April 20, 1856.