FULTON, Robert, American inventor: b. Little Britain (now Fulton), Lancaster County, Pa., 1765; d. New York, 24 Feb. 1815. His father came from Kilkenny, Ireland, early in the 18th century, and settled in Little Britain. At the age of 13 Robert constructed paddle wheels, which he applied with success to a fishing-boat. The years 1782-85 were spent in painting miniature portraits and landscapes, mechanical and architectural drawing, and whatever came in his way in the line of artistic work, at Philadelphia, where he numbered Benjamin Franklin among his friends. In 1786 Fulton went to London, and was received into the family of Benjamin West, under whose instruction he studied for several years. After ward he practised his art in Devonshire, under the patronage of wealthy persons, among whom were the Duke of Bridgewater and Earl Stan hope. With his acquaintanceship with these persons begins his experiments m mechanics. Francis Egerton Bridgewater, last duke of that name, had become famous by the construction of a navigable canal from Worsley to Man chester, and Charles, Earl Stanhope, was the inventor of the Stanhope printing-press, and a student of mechanics and engineering. In i 1793 Fulton actively engaged in a project for the improvement of canal navigation, and in the following year obtained from the British government a patent for a double-inclined plane for raising or lowering boats from one level to another on a system of small canals. In 1794 he patented a mill for sawing marble. Some time in 17% he made plans for the con struction of cast-iron aqueducts, and a great work of this kind was built for crossing the river Dee. A bridge built from his plans was erected at Wandsworth, and others at several points in Surrey. He also patented in England a machine for spinning flax, a dredging machine, a market or passage-boat, a dispatch boat, and a trader for use on canals. In 1796 he published his
In 1803, having the financial assistance of Chancellor Livingston, Fulton launched a steam boat on the Seine, which, owing to faulty con struction of the frame, immediately sank. Another boat was soon built, with the old machinery, and a trial trip was made but no great speed was attained. Encouraged with this partial success Fulton shortly afterward ordered an engine of Watt and Boulton to be sent to the United States. Early in the spring of 1807 the boat that was to navigate the Hud son and establish the system of steam naviga tion was completed at a ship-yard on the East River. The engine was put in later and on 11 Aug. 1807, the Clermont steamed up the Hud son to Albany, the voyage occupying 32 hours. During the autumn of 1807 the Clermont was run as a packet between New York and Albany. The success of Fulton's enterprise excited much jealousy and rivalry, and a number of persons disputed his claim to originality. Litigation and competition threatened to rob him of all profit from his invention. Fulton's first patent for improvements in navigation by steam was taken out 11 Feb. 1809, and another, with fuller provisions, on 9 Feb. 1811. What ever may have been Fulton's honors as to the invention, he undoubtedly deserves the credit of first bringing into practical use the steamboat as a conveyance for passengers and freight, all earlier undertakings having been inefficient practically. The success of the Clermont was followed by the rapid multiplication of steam boats. A list of those built under Fulton's superintendence comprises the Car of Nep tune, the Paragon, the Fire-Fly, the Richmond, the Washington, Vesuvius, Olive Branch, Em peror of Russia, the Chancellor Livingston, and many ferry-boats. He described his first ferry boat in an article published in the American Medical and Philosophical Register for Octo ber 1812. In 1814, Fulton submitted to the coast and harbor defense committee plans for a steam warship to carry 44 guns, and in October of that year a boat of this description, called the Demologos (subsequently known as Fulton the First), was launched. The War of 1812 terminated before the effectiveness of the Ful ton as a war vessel could be tested, and she afterward became a receiving ship. The last subject to which Fulton's energies were devoted was a modification of his submarine boat the Nautilus, but only the hull of the projected craft was completed before his death. Ex posure in crossing the Hudson, after testifying in New Jersey in a steamboat case, laid the foundation of Fulton's last illness. He left a widow (daughter of Walter Livingston) and one son and three daughters. In 1909 the cen tennial anniversary of the Clermont was cele brated in conjunction with the tercentennial of the discovery of the Hudson by the navigator of that name. A replica of the Clermont was constructed and proceeded under its own steam up the river as its prototype had done exactly 100 years before. The literature of the steam boat controversy is extensive. The fullest list on the subject is afforded by Preble's