96 



ANNUAL REGISTER, 1817. 



though others may have been con- 

 ducted in the paths of science by 

 superior learning, and may have 

 had a more dazzling career, the 

 labours of no individual have been 

 more honourable, meritorious, or 

 practically useful. 



The establishment of steam na- 

 vigation will form an impoitant 

 epoch in the history of our species. 

 — The name of the man who ac- 

 complished it will live to the re- 

 motest ages, if he be not robbed 

 of the fame which is due to the 

 employment of a superior genius, 

 with surprising courage, industry, 

 perseverance, and success. 



Ilobeit Fulton was born in the 

 town of Little Britain, in the 

 county of Lancaster, and state of 

 Pennsylvania, in the year 1765 ; he 

 was of a respectable though not 

 opulent family. Kis father, Robert 

 Fulton, was a native of Kilkenny, 

 in Ireland. His mother was also 

 of a respectable Irish family, by 

 the name of Smith, established in 

 Pennsylvania. 



In his infancy he was put to 

 school in Lancaster, in Pennsyl- 

 vania, where he acquired the rudi- 

 ments of a common English edu- 

 cation. 



His pecidiar genius manifested 

 itself at a very early age. In his 

 childhootl, all his hours of recrea- 

 tion were passed in the shops of 

 mechanics, or in the employment 

 of his pencil ; and at this early 

 |)erio(i of his life he had no otlier 

 desire for money than to supply 

 himself with the necessary mate- 

 rials to indulge his taste for me- 

 chanism and drawing. 



By the time he had attained the 

 age of seventeen years, lie became 

 so much an artist with his pencil, 



as to derive emolument from paint- 

 ing portraits and landscapes, in 

 Philadelphia, where he lemained 

 till he was about twenty-one. In 

 this time he had made the ac- 

 quaintance of our celebrated coun- 

 tryman Doctor Franklin, by whom 

 he was much noticed. 



Mr. Fulton throughout his 

 course as a mechanist and civil 

 engineer, derived great advantage 

 from his talent for diawing and 

 painting. He was an elegant and 

 accurate draftsman. 



It is gratifying to find, that Mr. 

 Fulton ever felt as an American. 

 His long residence abroad did not 

 enfeeble his attachment to his 

 country. Thoughts of her pros- 

 perity and welfare weie connected 

 with all his projects; and those 

 that he thought might be of ad- 

 vantage to her, he communicated 

 with a promptness and disinte- 

 restedness which marked his desire 

 to serve her. 



Ardoiu' and perseverance were 

 characters of Mr. Fulton's mind ; 

 when he had conceived what he 

 thought a practicable and benefi- 

 cial project, he left no means un- 

 tried, and spared no pains for its 

 accomplishment. 



It may be well to notice here, 

 a matter not otherwise of import- 

 ance, than as it serves to mark 

 the pliancy of Mr. Fulton's mind, 

 and the versatility of his genius. 

 At a time when he was taking a 

 step which, as he thought, would 

 be decisive to the fate of nations, 

 which put his life at risk, and 

 might determine his own fortune, 

 he amused himself with making- 

 sketches fron) the scenery of Hol- 

 land, and representations of the 

 manners, figures, and costume of 



the 



