FITCH, JouN, 1743-98; b. Windsor, Conn. The son of a farmer, and receiving only a common-school education, he became noted for his discoveries and inventions in connection with steam navigation. When quite a lad, he made a few voyages before the mast, but became tired of that business, and devoted himself at various times to dif ferent mechanical trades. 'The war of the revolution breaking out, he became a sutler' on the American side, and collected by his profits quite a large sum of money,which he invested in land in Virginia. In 1780, F. became deputy-surveyor for Kentucky, and a year later. while traveling, was captured by the Indians, but soon released. He next devoted himself to the production of a map of the north-western country; and the idea of employing steam in the navigation of tho.western rivers, on which he sailed, haying occurred to him, he sought by the Sale of this map to obtain the means for his experiments. Unsuccessful in this, he next turned his attention to the state legisla tures, but failed to obtain an appropriation; he at-last succeeded in forming a company, and with the assistance thus obtained, constructed a steam-packet, which was launched on the Delaware in 1787, and reached a speed of 3 miles an hour. F. now obtained
exclusive rights of steam navigation in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware, and in 1790 built a boat to convey passengers on the Delaware river for hire. The scheme proved unfortunate, and the company which sustained F. was dissolved. In 1793, he went to France with the hope of introducing his invention, but failed, and returned to America disheartened and impoverished. In the mean time his Virginia lands had fallen a prey to " squatters," and heart-broken by his failures and disappointments, he com mitted Suicide. Six years prior to his death, F. placed iu charge of the Philadelphia library a sealed package, with directions that the seals should not be opened until 1823. When opened, it was found to be indorsed (inside), "To my children, and to future generations," and to contain a full record of the writer's inventions, adventures, and disappointments.