"steam boat" 1786, antedates 1787

[Dan Goncharoff]

Sorry, I don't understand what myth was busted.

According to this site, there were several scale models built before the
full-size demonstration in 1787:

http://patentpending.blogs.com/patent_pending_blog/2005/05/fitchs_steamboa.html

It also claims that "Fitch got a license from New Jersey for all steam
navigation of rivers in the state, which they thought was a throw away,
since steam navigation of rivers was considered preposterous."

This is not inconsistent with any of the facts presented.

DanG

On Sat, Apr 23, 2011 at 6:00 PM, Joel S. Berson <Berson at att.net> wrote:

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> Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> Poster:       "Joel S. Berson" <Berson at ATT.NET>
> Subject:      "steam boat" 1786, antedates 1787
>
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> "Steam boat" in 1786, antedates OED 1787--.  [EAN]
>
> 1)  March 27
>
> Friday last the honourable the legislature of the state adjourned
> sine die. During the sitting they passed the following acts:
> ...
> 21. An act for granting and securing to John Fitch, the sole right
> and advantage of making and employing the steam boat by him lately
> invented, for a limited time.
>
> New-Jersey Gazette [Burlington]; Date: 03-27-1786; Volume: IX; Issue:
> 411; Page: [3]; col. 2.
>
> [Another myth busted!  Wikipedia (s.v. "Robert Fulton") says "The
> first successful trial run of a steamboat had been made by inventor
> <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Fitch_%28inventor%29>John Fitch on
> the <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delaware_River>Delaware River on
> August 22, 1787."  So the New Jersey rights were awarded nearly a
> year and a half before that trial run, which seems to have been
> funded not by New Jersey but by Pennsylvania (see (5) below).]
>
> 2)   May 15
>
> Thursday, March 16, 1786.
> The house met.
> ...
> Mr. Biddle, agreeably to leave given, and in behalf of the
> petitioner, presented the draught of a bill, entitled, 'an act for
> granting and securing to John Fitch the sole right and advantage of
> making and employing the steam boat by him lately invented for a
> limited time;' which bill was read, and ordered a second reading.
>
> New-Jersey Gazette; Date: 05-15-1786; Volume: IX; Issue: 418; Page:
> [2]; col. 1.
>
> 3)  May 22
>
> New-Jersey Gazette; Date: 05-22-1786; Volume: IX; Issue: 419; Page: [2].
>
> [Like the preceding, in a report of action by the House, in this case
> on "Saturday, March 18, 1786".]
>
> 4)  Aug. 30 -- already on a commercial sign in Philadelphia, even
> before Fitch's trial run!
>
> To be sold. A Pair of handsome Bay HORSES, well matched ... Apply to
> George Chaplin, at the sign of the Steam-Boat, on the east side of
> Front street, between Market and Arch streets ...
>
> Pennsylvania Packet [Philadelphia], and Daily Advertiser; Date:
> 08-22-1786; Issue: 2355; Page: [3]; col. 3.
>
> 5)  Sept. 22
>
> PENNSYLVANIA.
> Philadelphia, Sept. 8.
> ...
> A committee of the Assembly have recommended, that mr. Fitch be
> empowered to draw on the state-treasurer for any sum, not exceeding
> 150l. that may be necessary for building his STEAM-BOAT,
>
> American Recorder [Charlestown, Mass.]; Date: 09-22-1786; Volume: I;
> Issue: 75; Page: [3]; col. 2.
> -----
> Google Books gives us no earlier quotations, although a number of
> amusing (but only if one is in a good mood) false datings.  Including
> "Foxe's Book of Martyrs" (1563), published by [best be] ForgottenBooks.org.
>
> The 1770 hit from "The method of teaching and studying the belles
> lettres; or, ... - Page 121, by Charles Rollin" looks like a paste-in
> by some later owner.
>
> Joel
>
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