Robert Fulton’s Voyage of Clermont

The rapid advance in transportation that occurred in the 19th century took a great leap forward with the famous trip of Robert Fulton’s steamboat, the Clermont, from New York to Albany and back in 1807. His heralded journey proved the application of steam power to transportation and inspired a wave of steamship production that soon saw the rivers of America bustling with this new transportation technology. The following is a letter written by Robert Fulton to the editor of the American Gazette in September 1807 and recounts his momentous experimental trip and expresses his hope for the future success of steam power.

New York, September 15, 1807

Sir,

I arrived this afternoon, at four o’clock, I the steamboat from Albany. As the success of my experiment gives me great hopes that such boats may be rendered of great importance to my country, to prevent erroneous opinions and give some satisfaction to the friends of useful improvements, you will have the goodness to publish the following statement of facts:

I left New York on Monday at one o’clock, and arrived at Clermont, the seat of Chancellor Livingston, at one o’clock on Tuesday—time, twenty-four hours; distance one hundred and ten miles. On Wednesday I departed from the chancellor’s at nine in the morning, and arrived in Albany at five in the afternoon—distance, forty miles; time, eight hours. This sum is one hundred and fifty miles in thirty-two hours, equal to near five miles an hour.

On Thursday, at nine o’clock in the morning, I left Albany, and arrived at the chancellor’s at six in the evening; I started from thence at seven, and arrived at New York at four in the afternoon—time, thirty hours; space run through, one hundred and fifty miles, equal to five miles an hour. Throughout my whole way, both going and returning, the wind was ahead; no advantage could be derived from my sails; the whole has therefore been performed by the power of the steam engine.

I am, sir, your obedient servant,

Robert Fulton

Source: Reigert, The Life of Robert Fulton (1856), as quoted in Robinson & Beard, Readings in Modern European History, Vol. II (New York: Ginn & Company, 1909), 406-407.