Biographical Memoir of William C. Redfield. 431 



distinguished philosophers of his time. So little, indeed, did he 

 dream of fame, that for eight or nine years after the first concep- 

 tion of his theory, he gave little attention to the study of the phe- 

 nomena of storms, but was deeply engrossed in other enterprises 

 which, although foreign to this subject, were alike evincive of his 

 original and inventive turn of mind. Of these we may take a 

 passing notice. 



Before the scientific world, Mr. Redfield has appeared so exclu- 

 sively in the character of a philosopher, especially of a meteor- 

 ologist, that they have been hardly aware of the important ser- 

 vices he has rendered the public in the character of naval engi- 

 neer, particularly in the department of steamboat navigation. His 

 attention was turned professionally towards this subject as early 

 as the year 1820, when he became much interested in an experi- 

 ment with a small boat propelled by an engine of new and pecu- 

 liar construction, the invention of Franklin Kelsey, Esq., a towns- 

 man of his. Although the enterprise was not successful to the 

 company, yet to himself it was not destitute of valuable results, as 

 it was the occasion of his acquiring a more intimate knowledge of 

 the properties of steam, of steam navigation, and of ship building. 

 On the ruins of that enterprize was erected another, which after 

 some vicissitudes acquired a permanent success, and opAied to 

 him a sphere of professional labor which constituted ever after- 

 wards the leading object of his life, as a man of business. Several 

 disastrous steamboat explosions had spread alarm through the 

 community and created a general terror of steamboats. Redfield 

 was the first to devise and carry into execution the plan of a line 

 oi safety barges to ply on the Hudson between New-York and 

 Albany. The scheme was, to construct a passenger boat to be 

 towed by a steamboat at such a distance from it as to avoid all 

 apprehension of danger to the passengei's. Large and commo- 

 dious barges were built, fitted up with greater taste and luxury 

 than had at that time been exhibited by steamboats. With these 

 were connected two large and subtantial steamers; and in the 

 excited state of public mind, these safety barges became great 

 favorites with travellers, especially with parties of pleasure. But 

 our countrymen never hold their fears long : a short interval of 

 exemption from steamboat accidents ended the excitement, while 

 the greater speed attained by the ordinary boats, and the lower 

 fare, gradually drew off passengers from the safety barges, until 

 they could be no longer run with profit to the company, and were 



