Robert Fulton
- Born in
Pennsylvania in 1765
- As a young man,
his first career was portrait painter
- He wanted to
expand his career, and therefore, ventured off to Europe
- When he was in
Europe, he changed his mind about his career and wanted to be an engineer
designer
- He met the
“right” people that helped him both financially and politically
- He began
designing steamships, submarines, canals and mines
- He created the
very first successful submarine called Nautilus for the British navy
- After helping the
British navy for two years by designing submerged bombs, he moved back to the
United States and helped the US navy.
- Designed the
steamboat called Clermont with New York City’s very own Robert Livingston.
- Sadly, Fulton
died when he walked home after jumping into an ice river in order to help save
his friend
- Buried in the
Trinity Church Cemetery
Did Fulton's designs for the submarines and steamships have any positive or negative effect on the Revolution for either the British or Americans?
ReplyDeleteHis steamboat had a positive effect on America's economy. Since goods could be moved sufficiently across waterways, America's economy prospered.
DeleteYes, shipping was longer dependent on the wind and weather.
DeleteIt had no effect on the Revolution however, since Fulton's first steamboat was not until 1807.
Technology has always spurred economic growth. In this case, steam power as the new energy source, replacing wind America'a industrial revolution was underway.
ReplyDelete