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Scientific Revolution in Maritime Sphere
(Naval Architecture, Shipbuilding, Navigation, Hydrography...)


1787 - Steamboat Perseverance
John Fitch, 43, originally a clockmaker then a gunsmith, successfully trials his steamboat Perseverance on the Delaware river. Fitch's first model (1785) Two years ago, Fitch achieved to convince the state legislative bodies of Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Virginia to award him a conditional 14-year monopoly for steam navigation on their waterways. He just missed Maryland and the district of Columbia to get a complete area of business in the core of the
Luc CHAMBON
Jul 10, 20254 min read


1803 - Half-Success for the Dundas & Symington Steam Tug
Charlotte Dundas The duet composed of Thomas Laurence Dundas, Baron Dundas, 62, & William Symington, an engineer, 39, undeterred by the failure of a previous attempt in 1801, has renewed it with a stronger steamboat named Charlotte Dundas. ¤ The first steamboat built by Dundas & Symington steamed successfully on the Carron river in 1801 but was dismissed from navigating on the Forth & Clyde canal for fear of damaging the banks. She had a paddle on each side - a feature whi
Luc CHAMBON
Jun 30, 20252 min read


1773 - French Belief in Steamboats
Claude d’Auxiron, ex-officer and polymath, a rightly renowned economist, 41, and Charles Monnin de Follenay, ex-officer, 38, formed last year a joint-venture company to promote steam navigation on river. Henri Léonard Bertin They achieved to convince the Secretary-of-State Henri Léonard Jean-Baptiste Bertin , aged 53, of the feasibility of a steamboat and of its economical interest. Since 1763 Bertin has been leading a ministry including agriculture, mines, river navigation
Luc CHAMBON
Jun 23, 20253 min read


1783 - Steamboat Le Pyroscaphe
Always looking for a solution of river navigation substituting for the horse-drawn barges, Claude de Jouffroy d’Abbans is back in...
Luc CHAMBON
Apr 21, 20254 min read


1776 - Steamboat Le Palmipède
Claude de Jouffroy d'Abbans Looking for a solution of river navigation substituting for the horse-drawn barges, a French gentleman,...
Luc CHAMBON
Apr 21, 20257 min read


1838 - Crossing the Atlantic Ocean under Steam
SS Sirius Two steamships (or SS in short), Sirius and Great Western , simultaneously cross the Atlantic Ocean from Cork in Ireland for...
Luc CHAMBON
Apr 20, 20254 min read
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