1816 - Elise Crosses the Channel under Steam

Last year, a shipowner, Pierre Andriel, 34 by now, purchased the small steamship Margery, built at Dumbarton by William Denny & Brothers for the purpose of navigation on the Clyde. A 120-tonner, she is 90-foot long and 15-foot broad. Her 14-hp machinery was made at Glasgow by John Robertson. It drives two paddle wheels which give the ship a speed of six knots.

Andriel renamed it Elise after having required modifications which consisted of strengthening the hull as well as the paddle wheels, and of adding an auxiliary sail rig - wise decisions if one considers his intents.

Acting on behalf of Andriel, Pajol & Cie, a company he founded in joint venture with General Pierre Claude Pajol, 44, Andriel had the primary intent to demonstrate that steamships can be seaworthy, and the subsequent ambition of establishing a business of steam navigation.

¤ Until last year, his associate, Pajol, was a very gallant officer of cavalry, a war hero by all records. Present on the main battle fields from 1791 on, he shone in particular at the battles of Eckmühl and of Essling (1809), for which he was made a baron, then at Wagram (1809), Borodino (1812) and Wachau (1813), for which he was made a count. His action was decisive at the battle of Montereau (1814), for which Napoléon promised him a marshal's baton that the defeat thwarted. Covered in many wounds and with a Grand Aigle cross, he left the Army at the Restoration of the Bourbons and he is now trying to become a businessman.

Andriel gathered a small crew of twelve men, including Engineer, Jackson and Captain Curtis who are both said to have formerly worked under the lead of famous Robert Fulton. He overrided their fears and imposed his will of crossing the sea despite harsh weather conditions. Nobody knows why he was so impatient. Anyway he showed boldness in this epic adventure.

Under Andriel's rule, under his threats and promises of reward, having her bridge swept by the waves, Elise crossed the Channel between Newhaven and Le Havre in seventeen hours under steam. After this feat of daring, she steamed to Paris where she was triumphantly welcomed and received the visit of King Louis XVIII.

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IN RETROSPECT FROM TODAY

Note - on the fate of Elise and of the company

Pajol and Andriel turn to disagree on the follow-up. Thus the company is dissolved in the middle of the year. Elise will navigate for commercial purpose for a few years.

The following year, Andriel will be granted the monopoly of steam navigation in the kingdom of Naples. He will have a rather successful businessman's career as a shipowner.

On his own, Pajol does not succeed as a businessman. He will participate in the Bourbons' dethronement (1830) and will become a peer under July Monarchy.