Clermont Steamboat
The Clermont steamboat was Robert Fulton's North River Steamboat, which on August 17, 1807, began a trip up the Hudson River from New York City to Albany, about 150 miles, in about 32 hours, showing that steam navigation was commercially practical.
What happened and why it matters
The Clermont showed that steam power could make water transport run on a schedule instead of waiting for wind and tide, the starting point for predictable transit times. Fulton's boat made the 150-mile run from New York to Albany in about 32 hours, much faster than sailing sloops against the current, and soon carried paying passengers on regular trips. Steamboats then spread to the Mississippi and other rivers, cutting the time and cost of moving farm goods to market. Shippers today expect published transit times and reliable departures, an expectation that began when engines replaced sails.
Related events
Sources
- Robert Fulton britannica.com
- North River Steamboat en.wikipedia.org
- Steamboat britannica.com