Nicholas Roosevelt (1767-1854) American inventor. Invented the vertical paddle wheel, and was associated with Robert Fulton in introducing steamboats on Western rivers. Born Dec. 27, 1767 in New York City, he was a great granduncle of Theodore Roosevelt. His efforts in the steamboat field were mentioned by John H. B. Latrobe, in his Lost Chapter in the History of the Steamboat (1871). He moved to N.Y.C. shortly after the withdrawal of British troops. Here he made a small wooden boat, across which was an axle projecting over the sides, with paddles at the ends. He became interested in the Schuyler copper mines in New Jersey on the Passaic River. He built engines for various purposes, including the water works of Philadelphia. He erected a rolling mill, and held the government contract for copper drawn and rolled guns, for six 74-gun ships. In 1797, with Robert R. Livingston, and John Stevens, he agreed to build a boat for which the engines were to be constructed by Roosevelt, and the propelling agency by Livingston. The experiment failed, but the following year, Roosevelt described his vertical wheel to Livingston, and the later strongly recommended it. Robert Fulton rejected it as being out of the question. It later proved one of the principles that made steam navigation a success. In 1802 Livingston and Fulton adopted Roosevelts vertical wheels. In 1809 Roosevelt and Fulton associated themselves to introduce steamboats on Western waters, and in 1811, Roosevelt built the New Orleans, the pioneer boat that descended the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers from Pittsburgh to New Orleans in 14 days. Member of Holland Lodge No. 8, N.Y.C. Died July 30, 1854.
Posted on: Wed, 19 Mar 2014 11:43:38 +0000
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