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


1809 - Voyage of a Steamboat from New York to Philadelphia
John Stevens For the first time a 50-foot long steamboat, the Phoenix, has sailed the open ocean, over 120 miles from New York to the mouth of the Delaware river. Then she has gone upstream over extra 90 miles to Philadelphia. The journey has been done under steam solely since Phoenix is deprived of sail. As everybody knows, Robert Fulton's partner, Robert Livingston, 63, obtained the monopoly of navigation on the Hudson river as early as 1798. The success of the steamboat
Luc CHAMBON
Jun 123 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


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 competition after seven years of reflections and of design. He trials a new steamboat moving on the Saône river in the city of Lyon. By all accounts, this is a feat. There have been at least ten thousands eye witnesses to admire the boat when, for the great event, it triumphantly steamed against the stream from Vaise, the place where it had been
Luc CHAMBON
Apr 21, 20254 min read
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