Steam Power at the Constitutional Convention - John Fitch's Perseverance
John Fitch was an inventor who demonstrated his steam boat in front of the Constitutional Convention Delegates.
This article is sponsored by by friends behind Steam Patriots, a new comic book that combines steampunk ascetics with American Revolutionary history.
Make sure you check out their Kickstarter campaign (here) so we can get issue #1 on shelves now!
John Fitch
When the American Revolution began, John Fitch was a gold and silversmith living in New Jersey.
Fitch briefly joined the war effort, though much of the support he offered was through weapons repair.
Eventually, the British destroyed his workshop and he fled to Kentucky where he worked as a surveyor for several years.
Gaining Steam
After acquiring a large tract of land, Fitch moved to eastern Pennsylvania where he began working on the project that would define his life...a steamboat.
By the 1780’s, steam power had become known in the United States, though most of the highest quality inventions were being created in Great Britain.
The British were very secretive about their steam engines, but somehow Fitch was able to figure out the technology on his own.
Perseverance
On August 26, 1787, in the presence of most of the Delegates to the Constitutional Convention, Fitch demonstrated his boat Perseverance.
John then went around attempting to secure funding from the Continental Congress and State Governments. Most denied him, though he was granted monopolies for steam powered boats on several waterways.
He spent several years (and a substantial portion of his own money) working out the details of his invention.
Patents
By the time the Federal Government was ratified, several people had cobbled together steam powered inventions of their own.
This led to what I generally call the ‘Steam Wars’. Several men all filed for patents at the same time. The hope was that, along with the patents, the men filers would have a monopoly on steam power for several years.
Largely to resolve the steam issue, the Government created the Patent Office.
The decision was made to give each person a patent on their specific style of steam engine. Fitch, James Rumsey, John Stevens and Nathaniel Read all received one.
This small but significant choice has affected the awarding of patents throughout the history of the United States.
Insulted
Fitch was extremely upset with the outcome of the Steam Wars.
He felt slighted, believing that both George Washington and Thomas Jefferson were biased toward his long-time rival, Rumsey.
John went to France in an attempt to further his investments, but the Reign of Terror put a stop to it.
After a quick jaunt in Britain, Fitch returned to the United States and moved out to his property in Kentucky where he took to drinking heavily.
He passed away just a few years later, but, in 1849 his granddaughter found an engine he designed in her attic. Though it had never been put to use, researchers have determined this to be one of (if not THE) earliest examples of a steam engine designed to power a railroad car.
Don’t forget to support Steam Patriots on Kickstarter: http://bit.ly/3ys8RQi
Do you want to learn about one of the other men granted a steam patent?
Great! Try this one:
John Stevens III - The Thomas Edison of the American Revolution
If you’d like to read a biography of this Founder, try ‘Poor John Fitch’ which came out a long time ago but goes in depth on this fascinating person’s life.
Pick up a copy through the Amazon affiliate link below (you’ll support this site, but don’t worry, Amazon pays me while your price stays the same) .
