Fulton, Robert

(1765-1815), practically the inventor of the steam. boat, was born in Pennsylvania. At first a portrait-painter, he went to England in 1786. After a few years he began to occupy himself with engineering and inventions. The subject of steam navigation already interested him. From 1797 to 1804 he resided in France, where, inventing the torpedo, he attempted to induce Napoleon to adopt it, but in vain. In England (1804-06) he had similar want of succe with the British Ministry, and in 1806 returned to America. At New York, in 1807, he succe fully realized his project of a ve el propelled by steam power, his steamboat, the ‘‘Clermont,’’ succe fully steaming from New York to Albany. His invention was of the first importance in developing the interior parts of the United States.