Fulton, Robert

Fulton, Robert (1765-1815), American inventor.

Robert Fulton was a painter and he left the United States to study art in Europe. Once there he turned his attention to engineering and planned iron bridges, spinning machines, several boats and even a submarine, although this was never built.

In March 1802 he watched William Symington's steamboat, Charlotte Dundas, being tried out on the Forth-Clyde Canal in Scotland.

Afterwards he returned to the United States and built the Clermont, a steamboat driven by two paddle wheels, one on each side. This was the first successful steamboat.

In 1807 it began to carry passengers on regular services between New York and Albany on the Hudson River, making the journey of 149 miles (240 km) in thirty-two hours.

See Cynthia Philip Robert Fulton