STRUGGLES
Most history books do not consider John Fitch the true inventor of the steamboat, but in fact consider Robert Fulton the man who created it. This is not entirely true because while Robert Fulton did build the first working steamboat, as said by David H. Hall, John Fitch was the actual inventor of the first commercial steamboat (loricase). Fitch had a lot of trouble trying to find someone to support him in his endeavors. In the late 1780s, he was able to raise enough money from private backers to build a few prototypes, but finally in 1791, Congress granted him a patent on his design (loricase). The only thing that they left out was the money needed to make his dream a reality. Another thing that really got in the way of Fitch’s dream was the fact that his boats were plagued with mechanical errors. After seeing this, investors abandoned him and he was left to fend for himself. After this, Fitch wrote, “The day will come when some more powerful man will get fame and riches from my invention; but nobody will believe that poor John Fitch can do any thing worthy of attention.” (loricase). This mishap destroyed Fitch’s confidence and his reputation as well. Robert Fulton took this and used it to his advantage to make a well built, well designed steamboat and was forever known as the man who made the steamboat.
