Fulton’s Steamboat
Fulton and Livingston Work Together
While he was in Europe, Robert Fulton began exploring other interests, especially new inventions. One thing he got interested in was engineering, which uses science, math, and design to solve problems and make things better. He wanted to find ways to improve transportation on canals and ships.
In 1797, Robert Fulton started working on designing a submarine called the Nautilus. He wanted to sell it to the French Navy, but they weren’t interested. However, he caught the attention of Robert Livingston, a lawyer from New York who had been involved in writing the Declaration of Independence.
Both Fulton and Livingston had a big idea: They wanted to use steam to power boats. There was already a steamboat built in 1787, but it was too expensive to operate. Fulton and Livingston dreamt of making an affordable steamboat for everyone who needed to travel on rivers.
With Livingston’s help, Robert Fulton brought an English steam engine to America and used it in a steamboat he had designed. He even drew detailed plans for his steamboat, which was unusual at that time.
What were Robert Fulton and Robert Livingston able to do when they worked together?
