Bell Henry

Bell, Henry, was born in 1767 in Linlithgowshire. After serving successively as a stonemason, a millwright, and in a ship-building yard, he settled in Helensburgh in 1807, where he gave his attention to the steamboat, and in 1812 the Comet, which had been built under Bell's directions, was launched. It was driven by a three-horse power engine made by himself, and was the first European steamer. He is also said to have invented the discharging machine used in calico-printing. He died at Helensburgh in 1830.