Fulton became interested in steam engines and the idea of steamboats in 1777 when he was around age 12 and visited state delegate William Henry of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, who was interested in this topic. Henry had learned about inventor James Watt and his Watt steam engine on an earlier visit to England.
Life and Career
In 1800, Fulton had been commissioned by Napoleon Bonaparte, leader of France, to attempt to design a submarine; he then produced Nautilus, the first practical submarine in history. Fulton is also credited with inventing some of the world's earliest naval torpedoes for use by the Royal Navy.
Key Facts
- Born: November 14, 1765 in Little Britain, Lancaster County, Province of Pennsylvania,
- Died: 1815
- Field: Technology
Legacy and Impact
The influence of Robert Fulton extends far beyond his own lifetime. He fundamentally shaped technology and how we live, and his inventions and technological breakthroughs remain foundational to this day.
Though he passed away in 1815, his ideas continue to be studied, debated, and built upon by scholars and practitioners worldwide.
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