History of the steam engine This boat could typically make 7 to 8 miles per hour, and traveled more than during its short length of service. The Fitch steamboat was not a commercial success, as this route was adequately covered by relatively good wagon roads. In 1802 William Symington built a practical steamboat, and in 1807 Robert Fulton used a Watt steam engine to power the first commercially successful steamboat. Oliver Evans in his turn was in favour of "strong steam" which he applied to boat engines and to stationary uses. He was a pioneer of cylindrical boilers; however Evans' boilers did suffer several serious
First Four Ships member of the Canterbury Association, and Port Levy's name was never changed. "Randolph", "Cressy", , and "Charlotte Jane" together carried an estimated 790 passengers. In addition, about another 60 worked their passage on the ships or deserted and disembarked. The first of the vessels, "Charlotte Jane", landed at Lyttelton Harbour on the morning of 16 December 1850. "Randolph" followed that afternoon. "Sir George Seymour" arrived on 17 December, followed ten days later by "Cressy" on 27 December. "Cressy" had taken longer because she had lost her foremast south of the Cape of Good Hope. The "colonists", who travelled in the