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Robert Fulton

Steamboats of the Hudson River
The first steamboat: 1807

Commercial steamboating on the Hudson River began with Robert Fulton´s successful steamboat trip from New York to Albany on August 14th, 1807. This voyage was the first of any significant distance made by a steamboat.  Immediately following this demonstration, Robert Fulton, with his partner Robert R. Livingston, started commercial steamboat service on the Hudson River between New York City and Albany.

Fulton's steamboat was built on the East River at the ship yards of Charles Brownne. After disappointments and delays, Fulton left New York on his steamboat for Albany on August 17, 1807. He made the trip in thirty-two hours and successfully demonstrated to the world the possibilities of steam navigation.

Chapter 2: The First Steamboat Building and voyage of Fulton's first steamboat. From Old Steamboat Days on the Hudson River, By David Lear Buckman, Published by The Grafton Press, New York, NY, 1907 Upriver in a Teakettle A description of Robert Fulton's first steamboat voyage to Albany, From The Hudson, by Carl Carmer, Published: New York, Farrar & Rinehart, 1939

Robert Fulton's Clermont

Fulton conceived of the idea of propelling boats by steam as early as 1793. Many others were also experimenting with steam, and Chancellor Robert R. Livingston of New York thought he had solved the problem in 1798. While in Paris, Livingston met Fulton, and the two were soon deeply immersed in the steamboat experimentation.

They built a steamboat on the Seine in Paris during 1803, but it sunk. The engine and boiler were fished out of the river and put in another boat.. Though she moved through the water and was considered a wonder by those who saw her, she was a disappointment to both Fulton and Livingston. They determined, when they returned to America, to make another effort with a larger boat to sail on the Hudson River. Livingston would supply the money and Fulton would do the work.

New York State Monopolistic Grants
Livingston had persuaded the New York State Legislature to give him the exclusive privilege of "navigating all boats that might be propelled by steam, on all waters within the territory or jurisdiction of the State, for the term of twenty years." Humorously referred to as "the hot water bill," the act contained the proviso that he must construct a boat capable of traveling between New York City and Albany at an average speed of four miles an hour. Fulton’s first steamboat trip in August, 1807, fulfilled this condition.

Obtaining this monopoly was the most crucial action Livingston took to promote his steamboat enterprise. The legal underpinning of his steamboat empire gave him control of the heavily traveled and lucrative route between New York City and Albany.  The act also allowed Fulton and Livingston to seize any steamboat that operated without their license, and to collect a penalty for every trip made.

The New York monopolistic grants created new and unforeseen questions about the relationship between the states and the role of the Federal Government in regulating commerce among the states.  Since New Jersey shared the Hudson River with New York, New Jersey felt New York unjustly claimed an exclusive jurisdiction over the Hudson River. A situation was created where two sovereign States had passed laws in direct conflict, and it was not until the United States Supreme Court settled the dispute that the river and New York Harbor were opened to steamboats. The decision in this case, known as Ogden v Gibbons (1824), helped to define the boundaries of power between the states and the federal government and the power of the federal government over interstate commerce.

The monopolistic grants did much to delay the introduction of steamboats.  Livingston and Fulton aggressively enforced their rights preventing other operators from introducing steamboats on the Hudson River.  The Odgen v Gibbons Supreme Court decision was a resounding defeat for the Fulton-Livingston interests, and effectively ended their monopoly.  Anyone was now free to build and operate a steamboat on the Hudson River without interference from the courts. This decision launched a massive effort to put steamboats into service on the river.  In 1819, there were only eight steamboats on the Hudson River. By 1840, there were over one hundred.

Robert Fulton
Fulton was born in Little Britain, Pennsylvania, November 14, 1765. In 1783 he was painting portraits, and in 1786 sailed for England to study under Benjamin West. He turned to engineering in 1794 and was engaged by the Duke of Bridgewater in canal projects, including a system of inclined planes in place of canal locks. In 1796 Fulton went to France, at the invitation of Joel Bariow, an American merchant living in Paris.

In Paris, Fulton studied French, German, mathematics and chemistry. The practical result of the application of the two latter studies was that he turned to the production of torpedoes and the submarines from which to fire them at enemy warships. He achieved some success with both. He gave an exhibition of his plunging boat in the harbor of Brest before the commissioners of the French Admiralty in 1801, using air stored in a copper globe, condensed to 200 atmospheres, from which he took supplies of fresh. He stayed under water over four hours and was highly pleased with the result of his effort, but he failed to secure any aid from the French Government to develop the invention.

Subsequently Fulton designed larger boats for the waters of New York State and Connecticut. Fulton and Livingston recognized the importance of Hudson River and Long Island Sound opportunities. They saw, too, the very great opportunities that were open in navigation of the western rivers and lakes. In 1810 Nicholas J. Roosevelt, with Fulton and Livingston, organized a shipyard at Pittsburgh, and built the first steamboat ever floated upon the western rivers.

This boat was named New Orleans and was 116 feet length, 20 feet beam, and the engine had a cylinder 34 inches diameter. The cost was $38,000. New Orleans started upon its first voyage in September, 1811. She had an exciting trip, but reached her destination safely, and afterward operated regularly between New Orleans and Natchez.

That Fulton realized the importance of the great river waterways and the part they were to play in the opening the Middle West.. In 1816, the fleet of passenger and freight steamboats on the Mississippi River and its tributaries totaled 326,443 tons, supplying economical and fast transportation, and a service which was very largely responsible for the opening of great new territories.

Robert Fulton died in February, 1815, the result of exposure, and his death was mourned as a national calamity.

Robert R. Livingston, Jr.
Robert Livingston was Fulton´s partner in the steamboat business.  Livingston was a member of that extraordinary generation of American statesmen that included, among others, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, James Madison, George Washington, and John Jay. Robert Livingston was a member of the committee that drafted the Declaration of Independence and was sent to France by Thomas Jefferson to negotiate for the purchase of the Louisiana Territory.

The Clermont Steamboat

Robert Fulton Biographies

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Robert Fulton and Early Steamboat Development
Overview of Fulton´s steamboat activities
From "Steamboat Days," by Fred Erving Dayton (1880 - ), Illustrated by John Wolcott Adams, Published: New York, Frederick A. Stokes, 1925

Chapter 4: The Clermont, The First Steamboat Trip between New York and Albany
Detailed description with letters and documents about building the Clermont
From Robert Fulton and The Clermont, by Alice Cary Sutcliffe, The Century Co. New York, 1909

Robert Fulton and the North River Steamboat of Clermont
Detailed description of the development and voyages of Fulton´s first steamboat
From "Robert Fulton; Engineer and Artist," by H. W. Dickinson, Published London, 1913
Some illustrations from the text.

Fulton´s Experiments With Steam
Detailed descriptions of Fulton's work with steam and steamboats.
From "Robert Fulton; His Life and its Results," by Robert H. Thurston, Published by Dodd, Mead and Company, New York, 1891

Robert Fulton Biographies
A listing of the major biographies of Robert Fulton. Full text versions are available for some.

Robert Fulton Commercial Steamboat
A short biography of Robert Fulton from the MIT Invention Dimension Web Site.

Robert Fulton Statue
From The National Statuary Hall Collection

Robert Livingston Statue
From The National Statuary Hall Collection

The National Statuary Hall Collection in the United States Capitol is comprised of statues donated by individual states to honor persons notable in their history. The entire collection now consists of 98 statues contributed by 50 states. Forty-eight states have contributed two statues each. Two states are eligible to donate one additional statue to the Capitol: Nevada and New Mexico.

The 1909 Hudson-Fulton Celebration - Building the Clermont Replica
From Saturday, September 25, to Monday, October 11, 1909, the State of New York commemorated the 300th anniversary of the discovery of the Hudson River by Henry Hudson in 1609 and the 100th anniversary of the first successful application of steam to navigation upon that River by Robert Fulton in 1807. The creation of a full scale replica of Robert Fulton's steamboat was one of the accomplishments of this celebration, and this chapter describes how the Clermont replica was designed and built.

The Saugerties-Fulton Steamboat Foundation
A group in Saugerties, NY, that has plans to build another Clermont replica in time for the 200th anniversary in 2009 of Fulton's first steamboat voyage

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