James Rumsey
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James Rumsey was an American mechanical engineer chiefly known for exhibiting a boat propelled by machinery in 1787 on the Potomac River at Shepherdstown in present-day West Virginia before a crowd of
Portrait c. 1790
The Potomac at Shepherdstown, with the second James Rumsey Bridge in the background, as seen from the Rumsey Monument
Rumsey Monument at Shepherdstown
John Fitch (inventor)
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John Fitch was an American inventor, clockmaker, entrepreneur, and engineer. He was most famous for operating the first steamboat service in the United States. The first boat, 45 feet long, was tested
James Rumsey
…Franklin. Indeed, if Franklin had wanted to make such a claim it likely would have been accepted, but he did not, and became one of Rumsey's supporters. John Fitch had demonstrated his steamboat in Philadelphia the previous August. Although there was yet no overall patent system in the confederated states, he had…
Model of the Perseverance, Deutsches Technikmuseum Berlin, Germany.
Steamboat of April 1790 used for passenger service