A History of the Growth, of the Steam-Engine (Classic Reprint)

Trace the birth of steam power and the rise of the steamboat, from early experiments to public success.

This classic volume chronicles how steam engines moved from workshop trials to transforming rivers, seas, and industry.

The book focuses on the pioneers who made steam navigation a commercial reality. It covers the American efforts of Fulton, Livingston, Stevens, and Roosevelt, and follows their experiments, legal battles, and the first successful voyages on rivers like the Seine. Rich with historical detail, it blends technical insight with the drama of invention and enterprise.
What you’ll experience

• Biographies of key figures and how their ideas evolved into working vessels
• Descriptions of early experiments, setbacks, and eventual breakthroughs
• A sense of the timeline from the late 18th century through the early 19th
• Illustrative material that supports the narrative of steam-powered progress

Ideal for readers of technology history, maritime history, and the story of modern engineering.