Robert Fulton News

Last year I provided a list of my favorite historical ships as my contribution to the Great Ships issue. Even though I received some pushback on the list, I see no need to amend it.I created that list to avoid having to judge today’s Great Ships, but the second time around I suppose I cannot evade my mission and should focus on present day vessels, and there is a lot of interesting stuff being produced in the U.S. and globally.But behind every Great Ship there are a lot of great people that stood at her cradle…

At one time the most powerful lighthouse in the United States was Twin Lights in Highlands New Jersey. Today it is a wonderful little museum and right now it has a very interesting show of paintings by Maarten Platje on the War of 1812. One painting is called the Great Chase and it tells this amazing story of the US Frigate Constitution being becalmed off the New Jersey coast and becoming engaged in a rowing race to keep out of range of a powerful British Squadron. The Constitution escaped and went on to have her amazing victories that year…

Today in U.S. 1813 - Fifteen U.S. gunboats engage three British ships in Hampton Roads, Va. 1815 - Trials of Fulton I, built by Robert Fulton, are completed in New York. This ship would become the Navy's first steam-driven warship. 1898 - U.S. forces occupied Guam, which became first colony of U.S. in the Pacific. 1913 - First fatal accident in Naval Aviation, ENS W. D. Billingsley killed at Annapolis, Md. 1944 - Battle of Philippine Sea ends with Japanese losing two aircraft carriers and hundreds of aircraft.

Today in U.S. Naval History - October 29 1814 - Launching of Fulton I , first American steam powered warship, at New York City. The ship was designed by Robert Fulton. 1980 - USS Parsons (DDG-33) rescues 110 Vietnamese refugees 330 miles south of Saigon. For more information about naval history, visit the Naval History and Heritage Command website at history.navy.mil.

Today in U.S. 1813 - Fifteen U.S. gunboats engage three British ships in Hampton Roads, Va. 1815 - Trials of Fulton I, built by Robert Fulton, are completed in New York. This ship would become the Navy's first steam-driven warship. 1898 - U.S. forces occupied Guam, which became first colony of U.S. in the Pacific. 1913 - First fatal accident in Naval Aviation, ENS W. D. Billingsley killed at Annapolis, Md. 1944 - Battle of Philippine Sea ends with Japanese losing two aircraft carriers and hundreds of aircraft. For more information about naval history, visit the Naval Historical Center website at www.history.navy.mil.

I propose that the Legislative, Executive, Judicial Branches of the federal government should cooperatively work toward the rebuilding of the presumption in favor of federal preemption with respect to all matters related to maritime commerce. I also propose that maritime stakeholders undertake measures to make this a reality. The Constitution already allows for such preemption – and it has been implemented with regard to various issues over time, particularly in the early days of the Republic.

Young America got the motive power it needed to expand beyond the capacities of the horse on this day in 1807. On this day in history the public got its first glimpse of a steam-powered boat.  Robert Fulton in his vessel, the Clermont, went 150 miles from Albany to New York City in 32 hours. The impact of the trip was not immediately clear, and some even called the effort "Fulton's Folly."  But steamboats caught on and revolutionized the way America moved.  Today, just over 2.2 billion tons of the nation's goods travel on the waterways each year, with the Mississippi River system carrying the most.  Commodities shipped by water include petroleum, coal, grain, and gravel.  You can find more facts about America from the U.S. Census Bureau, online.

1813 - Fifteen U.S. gunboats engage three British ships in Hampton Roads, Va. 1815 - Trials of Fulton I, built by Robert Fulton, are completed in New York. This ship would become the Navy's first steam-driven warship. 1898 - U.S. forces occupied Guam, which became first colony of United States in the Pacific. 1913 - First fatal accident in naval aviation, Ensign W. D. Billingsley killed at Annapolis, Md. 1934 - Commander in Chief, Asiatic Fleet Adm. 1944 - Battle of Philippine Sea ends with Japanese losing two aircraft carriers and hundreds of aircraft. For more information about naval history, visit the Naval Historical Center Web site at www.history.navy.mil.

April 2011 marks the 200th anniversary of the key decisions for the construction of the Erie Canal, a monumental public works project that transformed the economy of New York State. Two centuries ago, on April 8, 1811, the state Legislature approved a measure that set into motion the construction of the Erie Canal. This followed the delivery of a report on March 2, 2011 of a report by the original Commission. Brian U. Stratton, Director of the New York State Canal Corporation, "Two hundred years ago, visionary New Yorkers set forth a plan which would revolutionize communication and transportation throughout a young nation, lead to unprecedented prosperity and growth, and forever establish New York the Empire State.

1814 - Launching of Fulton I , first American steam powered warship, at New York City. The ship was designed by Robert Fulton. 1980 - USS Parsons (DDG-33) rescues 110 Vietnamese refugees 330 miles south of Saigon. (Source: Navy News Service)

1814 - Launching of Fulton I , first American steam powered warship, at New York City. The ship was designed by Robert Fulton. 1980 - USS Parsons (DDG-33) rescues 110 Vietnamese refugees 330 miles south of Saigon. (Source: Navy News Service)

1813 - Fifteen U.S. gunboats engage three British ships in Hampton Roads, Va. 1815 - Trials of Fulton I, built by Robert Fulton, are completed in New York. This ship would become the Navy's first steam-driven warship. 1898 - U.S. forces occupied Guam, which became first colony of United States in the Pacific. 1913 - First fatal accident in naval aviation, Ensign W. D. Billingsley killed at Annapolis, Md. 1934 - Commander in Chief, Asiatic Fleet Adm. 1944 - Battle of Philippine Sea ends with Japanese losing two aircraft carriers and hundreds of aircraft. For more information about naval history, visit the Naval Historical Center Web site at www.history.navy.mil.

October 29, 1814 - Launching of Fulton I , first American steam powered warship, at New York City. The ship was designed by Robert Fulton. 1980 - USS Parsons (DDG-33) rescues 110 Vietnamese refugees 330 miles south of Saigon. [Source: www.history.navy.mil}