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'Claude-François-Dorothée, marquis de Jouffroy d'Abbans' (1751–1832) is claimed by the French as the first inventor of the steamboat.
In 1773, Jouffroy d'Abbans met with the Perier brothers and studied in their workshop the ''Pompe à feu'' (Fire pump), which had been used as a motive force for the hydraulic machine developed by Chaillot, in order to apply to ship propulsion.
In 1776, Jouffroy d'Abbans develop a 13 meter steamship, the ''Palmipède'', in which the engine moved oars equipped with rotating blades. The ship sailed on the Doubs in June and July 1776.

In 1783, he made a paddle steamer named the ''Pyroscaphe'' ply on the Saône in 1783. However the Académie des Sciences prohibited him from using his invention in Paris, and instead nominated Perier, one of d'Abbans' opponents whose previous attempts had failed, to inspect the project. Further misfortunes due to the French Revolution hindered his progress.
In 1803, Robert Fulton would succeed in sailing a steamship of his conception on the Seine.

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External links

External links

★ Catholic Encyclopedia article

★ The first successful steamboat