Robert Fulton
Robert Fulton: A Pioneer of Steam Navigation
Born: Little Britain, Pennsylvania (November 14, 1765)
Died: February 24, 1815
Nationality: American
Early Life and European Pursuits
Fulton's early life was marked by a fascination with mechanics and invention. At age 12, he became interested in steam engines after visiting William Henry of Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
He moved to Philadelphia at the age of 14 where he worked
as a portrait painter and studied engineering.
In 1786, Fulton traveled to Europe, carrying letters of introduction from prominent Philadelphians. He spent several years in England, studying canal engineering and developing ideas for inclined planes and earth-digging machines.
He later moved to Paris, where he studied French and German, mathematics, and chemistry. During this time, he designed torpedoes and submarines.
The C…
