(1765–1815), American pioneer of the steamship. He constructed a steam-propelled ‘diving-boat’ in 1800, which submerged to a depth of 7.6 m (25 ft), and in 1806 he built the first successful paddle steamer, the Clermont.
Definition of Fulton, Robert in US English:
Fulton, Robert
proper nounˈfo͝oltn
(1765–1815), US inventor; pioneer of the steamship. He constructed a steam-propelled “diving-boat” in 1800, which he submerged to a depth of 25 feet (7.6 m). In 1806, he built the first successful paddle steamer, the Clermont. Eighteen other steamships were subsequently built, inaugurating the era of commercial steam navigation.