Five Things You Should Know About 19th Century Steamboats
Boats and ships powered by steam revolutionized transportation in the 19th century. Sailors were no longer dependent on the wind to propel boats through the water, and great changes in society were the result.
Here are Five Things to Know About Steamboats:
It is often assumed that Robert Fulton invented the steamboat. But Fulton, an artist turned inventor, did not build the first working steamboat.
Fulton actually solved a problem that made steamboats practical: he created a ship that not only worked, it made commercial sense.
By sailing his steamboat from New York City to Albany and back in the summer of 1807, Fulton showed the public that river transport could be made reliable and economical.
Fulton's steamboat business was made practical, and unfairly so, because his partner, Robert Livingston, had secured a monopoly to operate steamboats in the waters of New York. Other businessmen wanted to launch their own steamboats, but were legally prohibited.
The steamboat monopoly became a very contentious issue, and was finally settled in a landmark Supreme Court case. The concept of awarding monopolies to operate steamboats was shot down, and by the late 1820s competition among steamboat operators was fierce.
Steamboats became very popular very quickly, and one reason is simply because of the cost. It could cost vast fortunes, and take years, to build roads or construct canals.
But a steamboat could be financed by an individual investor, or a small group of investors. And once practical designs for steamboats became common knowledge, they could be produced relatively quickly.
One of the great businessmen of the 19th century, Cornelius Vanderbilt, built his career by operating a fleet of steamboats in the waters around New York City.His profits enabled him to build faster and more reliable boats, and his business model was followed by others.
Steamboats became very popular because they were considered safe, but they could be very dangerous. The steam boilers could explode, and there were many instances of people being killed by exploding boats.
And, as steamboats were constructed of wood for decades, they were an inherent fire hazard. Fires had to be maintained to keep the steam engines working, and overheating parts were known to start fires. In a horrendous incident in 1844, the steamship Lexington caught fire and burned in Long Island Sound.
The introduction of steam engines to boats made it possible for ships to maneuver as never before. And very powerful engines also made possible the ironclads, ships which were heavily armored to repel cannonballs. The famous battle between USS Monitor and CSS Virginia was only possible because both ships were powered by steam.
Here are Five Things to Know About Steamboats:
1. They Had No Single Inventor
It is often assumed that Robert Fulton invented the steamboat. But Fulton, an artist turned inventor, did not build the first working steamboat.
Fulton actually solved a problem that made steamboats practical: he created a ship that not only worked, it made commercial sense.
By sailing his steamboat from New York City to Albany and back in the summer of 1807, Fulton showed the public that river transport could be made reliable and economical.
2. Monopoly and Competition Was a Major Issue
Fulton's steamboat business was made practical, and unfairly so, because his partner, Robert Livingston, had secured a monopoly to operate steamboats in the waters of New York. Other businessmen wanted to launch their own steamboats, but were legally prohibited.
The steamboat monopoly became a very contentious issue, and was finally settled in a landmark Supreme Court case. The concept of awarding monopolies to operate steamboats was shot down, and by the late 1820s competition among steamboat operators was fierce.
3. The Revolution Happened Quickly
Steamboats became very popular very quickly, and one reason is simply because of the cost. It could cost vast fortunes, and take years, to build roads or construct canals.
But a steamboat could be financed by an individual investor, or a small group of investors. And once practical designs for steamboats became common knowledge, they could be produced relatively quickly.
One of the great businessmen of the 19th century, Cornelius Vanderbilt, built his career by operating a fleet of steamboats in the waters around New York City.His profits enabled him to build faster and more reliable boats, and his business model was followed by others.
4. They Could Be Very Dangerous
Steamboats became very popular because they were considered safe, but they could be very dangerous. The steam boilers could explode, and there were many instances of people being killed by exploding boats.
And, as steamboats were constructed of wood for decades, they were an inherent fire hazard. Fires had to be maintained to keep the steam engines working, and overheating parts were known to start fires. In a horrendous incident in 1844, the steamship Lexington caught fire and burned in Long Island Sound.
5. They Changed Warfare Forever
The introduction of steam engines to boats made it possible for ships to maneuver as never before. And very powerful engines also made possible the ironclads, ships which were heavily armored to repel cannonballs. The famous battle between USS Monitor and CSS Virginia was only possible because both ships were powered by steam.
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