John Fitch (inventor)

John Fitch

Model of one of J. Fitch's test boats, exhibited in the Technikmuseum Berlin

John Fitch (born January 21, 1743 in East Windsor, Colony of Connecticut , † July 2, 1798 in Bardstown, Kentucky ) was an American inventor, watchmaker, entrepreneur and engineer.

Life

Since 1785, Fitch made various attempts to use the power of a steam engine to propel a ship . In 1786, near Philadelphia , he constructed and tested the first operational steamship , a ten-meter-long vehicle with a rear paddle wheel . As a public recognition, he received a monopoly right to build steamships in four US states. Because the steam engine was too weak, the speed was too low and the ship was difficult to steer, economically a failure. After another failure with a rudder drive, he succeeded in 1787 in the presence of Benjamin Franklin and George Washington on the Delaware with the screw-driven steamship Perseverance ( water displacement 9 tons / speed 6 km / h upstream). With this ship an almost regular passenger and freight traffic between Philadelphia and Trenton was operated around 1790, which the functionality was proven. The capacity was 30 people and the total distance traveled was more than 1000 kilometers. Since Fitch did not succeed in attracting further donors, including in Europe, he had to stop his work.

literature

Fitch, John . In: Encyclopædia Britannica . 11th edition. tape 10 : Evangelical Church - Francis Joseph I . London 1910, p. 438 (English, full text [ Wikisource ]).

Web links

Commons : John Fitch - Collection of Images, Videos and Audio Files

Individual evidence

^ Jürgen Ostermeyer: Because water has no bars. John Fitch, builder of the first operational steamships, died 200 years ago . In: FAZ , July 2, 1998, p. 10.

personal data
SURNAME	Fitch, John
BRIEF DESCRIPTION	American technician and inventor
DATE OF BIRTH	January 21, 1743
PLACE OF BIRTH	East Windsor, Connecticut
DATE OF DEATH	July 2, 1798
Place of death	Bardstown, Kentucky

[1] Jürgen Ostermeyer: Because water has no bars. John Fitch, builder of the first operational steamships, died 200 years ago . In: FAZ , July 2, 1998, p. 10.