Astounding technology for its time: Steamships

Bill Federer recounts history of water transportation 'against the wind and weather'

The SS Savannah left May 22, 1819, from Savannah, Georgia, and 25 days later arrived in Liverpool, England, completing the first trans-Atlantic voyage by steamship. To pay tribute to the American Merchant Marine, President Franklin Roosevelt designated May 22, 1933, as National Maritime Day.

Ronald Reagan commented, May 20, 1986: “When steam-powered vessels began to eclipse sailing ships in the latter part of the 19th century, it was largely the result of pioneering work by two Americans, John Fitch and Robert Fulton.”

As a young man, Robert Fulton met Benjamin Franklin, who was renown as an inventor. In fact, Franklin had written on using steam to propel boats and supported the earlier inventor James Rumsey in his attempt develop steam-powered jet propulsion. Another inventor competing for patent protection was John Fitch, whose design was to use a steam engine attached to a bank of oars to paddle the boat. Samuel Morey successfully invented a steam power paddle wheel, but he lacked financial backing. John Stevens built a screw-driven steamboat in 1802.

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