A Steamboat On The Hudson River – The Inside Story

Everyone knows the deal with Robert Fulton and his invention, which first appeared on our own Hudson River. You probably studied it near the end of your stay in grade school.

What you were taught is likely accurate, but like many cursory once-overs that you have been forced to absorb, the real story behind the surface history may differ greatly.

Robert Fulton and his first-ever steamboat invention is likely one of those teachings that never went much deeper than surface or results, i.e., Robert Livingston sponsored Fulton’s construction of the Clermont. It was launched in 1807 and carried cargo up and down the Hudson River much more efficiently than ever. Ultimately, it changed seafaring around the world from sail-based to steam-based vessels. This is all true, but what it misses is the motivation. The facts that are under the surface, so to speak. Why would Robert Livingston toss money at Fulton to undertake a speculative project such as building the first steamboat?

Here is the Sojourner’s retro-scoop on this steamboat deal. As is well known, Robert Livingston was from a wealthy family based out of his ancestral estate, Clermont, on the Hudson River in Columbia County.  He was a land owner, businessman, and politician with influence enough to be appointed Minister to France. He also had enough influence and/or money to secure all steamboat shipping rights on the entire length of the Hudson River from the State of NY. I’m talking about New York City to Albany. It would be a pretty good deal if only one had a steamboat or two handy. But alas, there were none to be had, and Livingston knew this well.

Around this same time, Livingston had viewed a demonstration in France of a small steamboat built by Robert Fulton. So Livingston, the capitalist, approached Fulton, the entrepreneur, and contracted him to build the first cargo-carrying steamship. The project was publicly dubbed “Fulton’s Folly,” to the dismay of many detractors, the steamship touched into the Hudson River for its inaugural run on August 17, 1807. Except, it was not the steamship “Clermont,” as you were taught, that first pushed its way along the Hudson under steam power.

The documented name of the first Fulton/Livingston steamship was the “North River Steamboat.”  There never really was a “Clermont”. After a substantial rebuild around 1808, the ship was re-registered as “North River Steamboat of Clermont.” Hence, the Clermont. Several other ships were built by the enterprising duo, and a substantial amount of coin was pursed by running cargo and then passengers up and down the Hudson River at much greater speeds and with greater payloads than the sailed schooners of that day could manage. Not to mention that little thing about a shipping monopoly.