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H. Percy Ashley, Capt. , (1868–unknown)

Clermont

1930
20 in. x 40 1/2 in. (50.8 cm x 102.87 cm)

Medium and Support: Ship model

Credit Line: Museum purchase

Accession Number: 1931.S11

Current Location: On view : GC2

Commentary

Clermont
The First Commercial Steamboat

Built at New York in 1807
Length 149 ft.; Beam 16 ft. 6 in.; Depth 7 ft.; Draft 2 ft. 6 in.; Tonnage 182 tons

The Clermont has often been called the world’s first steamboat. Actually, for fifty years prior to her building, various attempts had been made in England, France, and America to produce a boat propelled by a steam engine. While some of these early boats operated short distances, none was a commercial success. The American inventor, Robert Fulton, combined the results of these earlier experiments with the financial aid of Robert Livingston of Clermont, New York, and had the Clermont built in 1807 by Charles Brown in New York. The engine was made by Boulton and Watt in Birmingham, England. On August 17, 1807, the Clermont sailed on her historic first voyage from New York to Albany, making the trip of one hundred and fifty miles in thirty-two hours running time. For the next seven years, she plied regularly between New York and Albany, carrying passengers and freight until her place was taken by other steamboats that followed in the wake of her success.

Adapted from Robert E. Peabody, "Clermont" catalogue entry in ed. John Ratté, Models of American Sailing Ships, rev. ed. (Andover, MA: Addison Gallery of American Art, 1994), 48

Exhibition List

This object was included in the following exhibitions:

1/4" scale: Models of American Sailing Ships Addison Gallery of American Art , 9/25/1994 - 1/12/1995

Portfolio List Click a portfolio name to view all the objects in that portfolio

This object is a member of the following portfolios:

Exhibitions: Ship Models

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