Building the First “Steamship” in History

In 1807, a brilliant, creative, and controversial American by the name of Robert Fulton declared his intent to build an experimental “steamboat,” which would be used to initiate a continuous passenger service between New York City and Albany, New York.  With the success of his North River Steam Boat, Fulton showed that it was possible to use an artificial power to alter a person’s location and the amount of time it took to change it.  In so doing, he also broke through the enormous psychological barrier that had existed in people’s minds; it was, in fact, possible to overcome Nature to practical effect.

It took time for many people to accept Robert Fulton’s triumph as the truth.

One man who did not need to be convinced was a sloop captain named Moses Rogers.  He had witnessed the first successful runs of the North River Steam Boat to Albany, and the experience gave him the fever--steamboat fever.

Moses soon became one of the first steamboat captains in history, taking command of one of Fulton’s first rivals, the Phoenix.  In his new profession, Moses learned not only the technicalities of this revolutionary invention, but the peculiarities of a traveling public just getting used to this new mode of transport.  

In the years immediately following Fulton's success, running these steamboats on rivers, lakes and bays became a normal and accepted part of American life.  But taking such a vessel on a voyage across the ocean was a different proposition altogether.  Experienced mariners didn’t think it could be done.  These early steamboats, they declared, were just too flimsy and unwieldy to withstand the dangers of the deep.

But Moses believed otherwise.  Combining his knowledge of the old mode of transport (sail) with the new mode of transport (steam), he set out to design a vessel that was capable of overcoming the many dangers of the sea.  This craft would be not a steamboat, but a "steamship," the first of its kind.  She was named Savannah.

This Chemical Engineers Presentation will show how Captain Rogers designed and built this revolutionary vessel -- from a chemical engineer's perspective -- two centuries ago!

John Laurence Busch is an independent historian who focuses upon the interaction between humanity and technology, specializing in the first generation of steam-powered vessels.  He has devoted years of research to discovering the true story of Captain Moses Rogers and the steamship Savannah.

The result is STEAM COFFIN, described by numerous book reviewers as the definitive account of what truly is America's sea saga.

Time:   Check-in/Network      5:30 p.m.

Dinner                         6:00 – 6:45 p.m.

Presentation                6:45 – 8:00 p.m.

 

Reservations and payment are being taken on the ISA on-line system.  Be sure to indicate your organization status.  You can pay on-line or "in person" when you arrive for the tour.  Questions can be directed to Bob Gale at 314-478=4774 or rpgale@charter.net  Reservations must be done on-line.