{"id":5176,"date":"2013-11-04T16:52:07","date_gmt":"2013-11-04T16:52:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.genealogybank.com\/?p=5176"},"modified":"2017-05-22T12:11:52","modified_gmt":"2017-05-22T16:11:52","slug":"who-really-invented-the-steamboat-fitch-rumsey-or-fulton","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.genealogybank.com\/blog\/who-really-invented-the-steamboat-fitch-rumsey-or-fulton.html","title":{"rendered":"Who Really Invented the Steamboat? Fitch, Rumsey or Fulton?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Introduction<\/em><\/strong>: Mary Harrell-Sesniak is a genealogist, author and editor with a strong technology background. In this guest blog post, Mary uses old newspapers to research the invention of the steamboat\u2014and describes how much steamboats changed our ancestors\u2019 world.<\/em><\/p>\n

The invention of the steamboat radically changed our ancestors\u2019 world. While researching your ancestors\u2019 lives in historical newspapers<\/a>, you will run across many mentions of steamboats. This blog article, including a fun quiz, will test your knowledge of the history of steamboats and help fill in some of the gaps for you.<\/p>\n

Who Invented the Steamboat?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Although many, including the writer of this 1815 obituary, credit Robert Fulton (1765-1815) as the steamboat inventor, it simply isn\u2019t true. So if Robert Fulton wasn\u2019t responsible, who created the first steamboat?<\/p>\n

\"obituary<\/a>
American Beacon (Norfolk, Virginia), 7 November 1815, page 3<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Perhaps you are an expert in steamboats; test your knowledge with this handy steamboat quiz and check your answers below.<\/p>\n

\"a<\/a><\/p>\n

John Fitch<\/strong><\/p>\n

Most historians attribute the honor John Fitch (1743-1798) as the inventor of the steamboat, who constructed the first steamboat in the United States.<\/p>\n

As you can see from this 1786 announcement addressed \u201cTo the ENCOURAGERS of USEFUL ARTS,\u201d Fitch \u201cproposed a Machine for the improvement of Navigation\u201d which was endorsed by a number of subscribers who thought that \u201cit might be beneficial to the public.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"a<\/a>
Pennsylvania Journal (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), 4 January 1786, page 1<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Several state legislatures granted Fitch a 14-year monopoly on all steamboat travel on the inland waterways within their borders. This steamboat monopoly in turn helped him attract investors. His invention used steam to power oars, and in 1788 his commercial steamboat could carry up to 30 paying passengers per trip on the Delaware River. (See Wikipedia’s image<\/a> of a woodcut by James Trenchard showing Fitch\u2019s steamboat.)<\/p>\n

James Rumsey (or Rumsy), Fitch\u2019s Rival<\/strong><\/p>\n

As is the case with many inventions, other inventors of the steamboats worked on the concept of steam navigation simultaneously, including James Rumsey (1743-1792). His steamboat incorporated steam propulsion and was patented by several southern states.<\/p>\n

After Rumsey went to Philadelphia in 1788 a pamphlet war arose with Fitch, with each claiming the right to make steamboats. This 1910 newspaper article reported that:<\/p>\n

\u201cGeorge Washington had written a letter certifying that he had witnessed trials of the Rumsey boat, and that although he formerly had but little faith in it, he was then convinced that Rumsey had discovered the art of working boats by mechanism.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"history<\/a>
Watertown Daily Times (Watertown, New York), 18 November 1910, page 5<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This article also reported that Rumsey \u201chad a controversy before his death with Fitch, whom he accused of \u2018coming pottering around\u2019 his shop.\u201d<\/p>\n

Several people tried in vain to get the two inventors to work together. It is reported that Fitch tried to secure a patent in England based upon Rumsey\u2019s water-tube boiler. There was even a Rumseian Society formed in 1788 to assist Rumsey, but it was disbanded in 1792 after his death. I recommend you read about it on the Web and at http:\/\/jamesrumsey.org\/<\/a>. It is a very interesting story.<\/p>\n

Robert Fulton<\/strong><\/p>\n

Although Fitch and Rumsey preceded Robert Fulton with their steamboat inventions, Fulton\u2019s contributions to commercial steamboat operations should not be overlooked.<\/p>\n

In 1801, he and partner Chancellor Robert Livingston<\/a> (1746-1813) built the North River Steamboat<\/em>, which was later named the Clermont<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Livingston was one of our nation\u2019s Founding Fathers and, among other accomplishments, became the first United States Secretary for Foreign Affairs (1781-1783). As you can see from this early advertisement, Livingston and Fulton charged $7 for passage from New York City to Albany on the North River Steamboat<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\"ad<\/a>
American Citizen (New York, New York), 5 September 1807, page 2<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This next historical newspaper account describes, in Fulton\u2019s own words, how he traveled from New York to Clermont, and arrived at the seat (home) of Chancellor Livingston in 24 hours and also includes a nice portrait illustration of him. Clermont would later become the famous name of Fulton\u2019s steamboat, and of course we should note that Chancellor Livingston was the uncle of Fulton\u2019s wife, Harriet Livingston.<\/p>\n

\"letter<\/a>
Columbian Gazette (Utica, New York), 1 September 1807, page 3<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

There is so much written about Fulton, I\u2019ll leave more in-depth research to you. However, I would recommend reading the many charming accounts of how Robert Fulton wooed and won the hand of his bride Harriet. Some report that she was present at the trial run of his first steamboat. The following account, reported by Fulton\u2019s grandson Robert Fulton Blight, states:<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2018Is it too presumptuous in me to aspire to the hand of your niece, Harriet Livingston?\u2019 young Robert Fulton one day asked her uncle, Chancellor Robert L. Livingston.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2018By no means,\u2019 replied the distinguished Chancellor. \u2018Her father may object because you are a humble and poor inventor and the family may object, but if Harriet doesn\u2019t object, and she seems to have a world of good sense, go ahead and my best wishes and blessings go with you.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

\"article<\/a>
New York Herald (New York, New York), 25 October 1891, page 32<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Genealogical Challenge<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

I was not able to locate Robert Fulton and Harriet Livingston\u2019s marriage announcement in the newspapers. If any of our readers find it, please let us know and we will update this post to include it.<\/p>\n

Update<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

A sharp-eyed reader, J. Hansen, found the following marriage announcement for Robert Fulton and Harriet Livingston; we are now able to update this Blog article with that newspaper article. Thank you, J. Hansen!<\/p>\n

\"marriage<\/a>
American Citizen (New York, New York), 9 January 1808, page 3<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

How Steamboats Changed the World<\/strong><\/p>\n

So how did steamboats change the world?<\/p>\n

You may be surprised at some of the answers. The emergence of mechanical navigation meant that:<\/p>\n