Robert Fulton (1765–1815) was an influential American engineer and inventor, primarily celebrated for launching the world's first commercially successful steamboat. In 1807, his famous North River Steamboat (also known as Clermont) completed a landmark 300-nautical-mile round trip on the Hudson River, carrying passengers between New York City and Albany in a mere 62 hours. This achievement dramatically transformed river transport and trade across American waterways.

Beyond his steamboat success, Fulton showcased remarkable ingenuity in military engineering. He designed the Nautilus, considered the first practical submarine, for Napoleon Bonaparte in 1800, and also invented some of the earliest naval torpedoes for the Royal Navy. Born in Pennsylvania, Fulton's childhood fascination with steam engines evolved into a career that profoundly impacted both naval technology and commercial shipping.