The fear of being blown up by torpedoes, known to be planted in several American harbours kept the English warships from raiding the American coast.
Robert Fulton was son of an Irish man who went to America in 1735. He was born in Little Brittain (later Fulton Township) Lancaster, Pa. It is claimed that his ancestors came to Ireland from Scotland. His father, also Robert Fulton, emigrated from Callan, Co. Kilkenny.
From an early age his interests were painting and engineering projects. When the power of steam became known he was the first in the world to apply steam power to the propelling of ships. His successful steam powered ship was the "Clermont" which sailed from New York to Albany, a distance of 160 miles. The year was 1807. While his name is associated with the invention of the steamboat, rarely is it mentioned the part he played in inventing the submarine torpedo. In 1805, at the invitation of the British Government he blew up a condemned boat near Deal, England. He refused to sell the details of his torpedo invention to a committee of the House of Lords. He said:
Later on during England's second war for the conquest of America, Fulton's submarine torpedoes did work in intimidating the enemies ships. The fear of being blown up by torpedoes, known to be planted in several American harbours kept the English warships from raiding the American coast.
Fulton was also willing to place his torpedoes at the service of the land of his forefathers. Thomas Addis Emmet tells us in his memoirs that Fulton volunteered to go to Ireland with an expedition and use his torpedoes against English ships. Thus strong were his Irish sympathies.
A fine statue of Robert Fulton and his steamboat may be seen in the Hall of Statues, U.S. Capitol. A model of his steam warship may be seen at the Museum of history and Technology at the Smithsonian Institute, while in Trinity Church Wall Street, New York may be seen his memorial. It reads: