Fulton, Robert. An American engineer. Fulton was born in Pennsylvania in 1765. Began life as a miniature portrait and landscape painter, in which he made some progress, but soon turned to engineering. He was one of the first to apply steam to the propulsion of vessels, and devoted much attention to the invention of submarine boats and torpedoes. In 1807 Fulton built the steamboat "Clermont" to navigate the Hudson River, making a speed of five miles per hour between New York and Albany. Robert Fulton died in 1815.

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