Daily Quiz for April 19, 2009

Robert Fulton (1765-1815) became interested in the idea of a steam-powered boat at age 12 when he visited William Henry. Henry had tried, but failed, to build a steamboat. Fulton built the first commercial steamboat, North River Steamboat, later renamed Clermont, which carried passengers between New York City and Albany, New York. In 1801 in France Fulton built and tested the Nautilus, a manned submarine. Tests were successful but the French government was not interested so the Nautilus was dismantled.