STEAMBOAT
The steamboat is just like any other boat except for the fact that it runs on steam-power. The engine is by far the most important part of the steamboat concept. Thomas Savory was the man responsible for the invention of the steam engine. He was an English Military engineer who lived from 1650-1715. In 1698, Thomas Savory patented the very first steam engine. It wasn’t anything special, but it did set the ground for many other technological advances.
In 1787, the American inventor, John Fitch, created the first successful steamboat. John Fitch lived from 1743-1798 and managed to construct four different versions of this steamboat concept. His steamboat designs included several different methods for traveling through the water. One of these included the more commonly thought of paddle wheel along with ranked paddles and screw propellers.
In the long run, Fitch’s design did not take into consideration the costs of operation as well as building the steamboats themselves. This ended up being the final nail in his metaphorical coffin. After the death of John Fitch, Robert Fulton perfected Fitch’s design and became known as the “father of steam navigation” (inventors).
