Fulton

ROBERT, an American inventor and civil engineer, B. in Pennsylvania in 1765, commenced life as a portrait painter; and after arriving in England to further his studies there, made the acquaintance of the Duke of Bridge water, the father of inland canal navigation, who induced F. to forsake art for the profe ion of a civil engineer. He produced several inventions, both in that country and France, among others a submarine boat, called a nautilus, intended for the destruction of ships by explosive agency. After his return home in 1806, he fitted out a ve el called the Clermont, which he supplied with a steam-engine ordered from England, and which was succe fully tried on the Hudson river in 1807, being the first practical application of steam to navigation. The remainder of his life was devoted to the construction of steamships and floating batteries. D. 1815. In 1846, Congre pa ed an Act making an appropriation of $76,300 in full of F.'s claims against the U. S. govt., for inventing steam floating batteries, superintending the construction of the steam-frigate Fulton, and other eminent services rendered by his improvements in the application of steam to navigation. Ful'ton, in Arkansas, a N. co., b. on Mi ouri; area, 860 sq. m.; C. Salem. Pop. 4,843.-In Georgia, a N.W. co.; area, 200 sq. m.; C. Atlanta. Pop. 33,446.-In Illinois, a W. co., area, 870 sq. m.; C. Lewis town. Pop. 38,291.- In Indiana, aN. co.; area, 366 sq. m.; C. Rochester. Pop. 12,726.-In Kentucky, a S.W.co.; area, 200 sq. m.; C. Hickman. Pop. 6,161.-In New York, an E.N.E. co.; area, 530 sq. m.; C. Johns town. Pop. 27,064. -A town of Oswego co., on the Oswego river, 25 m. N.W. of Syracuse. Pop. 3,507.-In Ohio, a N.W. co., b. N. on Michigan; area, 337 sq. m.; C. Ottokee. Pop. 17,789.-In Pennsylvania, a S. co., touching Maryland; area, 380 sq. m.; C. McConnellsburg. Pop. 9,360. [s. 389]