David Napier by David Napier and David Bell: Note 6
6. ROBERT FULTON, 1765-1815
Fulton was born in Pennsylvania in 1765, came to England in 1787 to complete his training as an artist, and spent five or six years in the study and practice of painting. He then took up the subject of inland navigation, and patented, in 1794, a form of inclined plane as a substitute for canal locks. Two years later he issued a treatise on the improvement of canal navigation, in which, however, only a passing allusion was made to the subject of steam propulsion. He also devised an apparatus for the mechanical excavation of canals, and had an interest in inventions for the cutting of marble, etc., and for the manufacture of ropes. Having acquired a knowledge of the steamboat experiments made in America and in Scotland, he wrote, toward the close of 1794, to Messrs. Boulton & Watt, asking the cost of a steam-engine "designed to be placed in a boat." Whether a quotation was made is not known, but he prosecuted the subject of steam propulsion no further at that time. Believing that his canal system might be specially suitable for France he proceeded to Paris in 1797, and obtained a French patent, similar to that he had taken in England. The disturbed state of both countries, however, owing to the war then in progress, was unfavourable to the introduction of new schemes whatever their merits, and it does not seem that Fulton's canal proposals met with encouragement on either side of the channel. Finding himself detained in Paris much longer than he originally intended, he next turned his artistic abilities to account by painting and exhibiting panoramas; and then, applying his mind to the more practical needs of France, set himself to the designing of torpedoes and submarine boats. About twenty years previously his countryman Bushnell had invented a submarine boat, but both by him and Fulton manual power only was used for propulsion. With funds supplied by the French government, Fulton was enabled to carry out a series of experiments to demonstrate the utility of his plan, and the "plunging boats" so produced gave some promise of success. The results however were not considered so useful practically as to warrant further expenditure, and the experiments in consequence were allowed to drop. About 1801 Fulton made the acquaintance, in Paris, of his countryman Chancellor Livingstone, who had recently been appointed political agent representing the United States, and who was fully conversant with the steamboat schemes that had been previously tried by Fitch and others in America. He now associated himself with Fulton, and they jointly had a paddle-wheel "tow boat" constructed to be propelled by steam. It was completed in 1803, by which time it is understood Fulton had procured particulars of the Miller-Symington experiments, and of Bell's proposals. Probably he also had seen the Charlotte Dundas, which Symington states he visited in 1801. The first steamer tried at Paris proved defective structurally, but it ultimately ran upon the Seine for a short time. Another vessel was built by Livingstone and Fulton, but had no definite success, and as it was apparent that no further assistance could be got in France, Fulton, in May 1804, returned to London. His torpedo experiments had attracted some notice in England, and he was now consulted by the British naval authorities and supplied with means to carry out further submarine tests. These were so far successful, but on the defeat of the allied fleets at Trafalgar no immediate inducement remained for continuing these trials, and they were accordingly abandoned. Fulton's services, however, proved financially profitable, as it is said that he received about fifteen thousand pounds for his experiments; and with adequate funds now in hand he found himself able to arrange for returning to America with a view to the prosecution of steamboat building. In 1804 or 1805 he contracted with Boulton & Watt for the supply of an engine, which they duly forwarded to America; and at the close of 1806 he himself set sail for New York. He then, in conjunction with Livingstone, had the hull of the famous Clermont built on the Hudson, the Watt engine fitted into it, and in 1807 the successful performances of that vessel introduced the era of practical steam navigation in America. Fulton continued to build and manage steamboats till his death, which took place at New York on 24th February, 1815.
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