Our Collection

At the Institute’s core is the Gilder Lehrman Collection, one of the great archives in American history. More than 85,000 items cover five hundred years of American history, from Columbus’s 1493 letter describing the New World through the end of the twentieth century.

Fulton, Robert (1765-1815) [Renunciation of claim by N. Roosevelt against Robert R. Livingston & John Stevens]

High-resolution images are available to schools and libraries via subscription to American History, 1493-1943. Check to see if your school or library already has a subscription. Or click here for more information. You may also order a pdf of the image from us here.

Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC04266 Author/Creator: Fulton, Robert (1765-1815) Place Written: New York, New York Type: Document signed Date: 28 August 1811 Pagination: 1 p. : docket ; 30.8 x 20.1 cm. Order a Copy

Roosevelt renounces his shipping-related claim against Livingston and Stevens. Signed by Nicholas Roosevelt and by Robert Fulton, as a witness. Document lacks original seal at right hand side.

Nicholas J. Roosevelt (1767-1854) had gone into joint venture with Robert Livingston and John Stevens in 1797 to build a steamboat. Roosevelt proposed a vertical wheel design for that vessel. In the spring of 1802, Livingston commuicated Roosevelt's plan to Fulton; the next year, Livingtson and Fulton launched a steamboat propelled by Roosevelt's vertical wheel design. The "New Orleans," piloted by Roosevelt, would become the first steamboat to sail the Mississippi River. John Stevens (1743-1838) was one of the leading inventors of steamboat technology. Robert Livingston was a prominent New York politician, and an early supporter of Fulton.

Robert Fulton was an engineer and entrepreneur, often credited with inventing the steamboat. While Fulton did not invent any of the individual components of the steamboat, he did combine the ideas of many other men to make the most successful steamboat. He was an expert on combining numerous ideas of other men into one product, a process he used in numerous other engineering ventures throughout his life. He also invested in a number of steamboat ventures.
Nicholas Roosevelt was hired by Fulton to build the steamboat the New Orleans. The ship, piloted by Roosevelt, would become the first steamboat to sail the Mississippi River.
John Stevens was one of the leading inventors of steamboat technology.
Robert Livingston was a prominent New York politician, and an early supporter of Fulton.

Fulton, Robert, 1765-1815
Roosevelt, Nicholas, fl. 1811
Stevens, John, 1749-1838
Livingston, Robert R., 1746-1813

Citation Guidelines for Online Resources