A History of the Growth, of the Steam-Engine

by Robert Henry Thurston

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.

Genres: History

562 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1972

About the author

1839-1903

Reviews

[Christopher Byram · Rating 3 out of 5]

I first discovered this book when it was referenced on Khan Academy, in the article 'READ: The Industrial Revolution', in Unit 6, in the course 'World History Project - Origins to the Present'. The article displays a sketch of a steam engine designed by Boulton & Watt in England, 1784.

[Francis S · Rating 2 out of 5]

Might be more interesting to others but focused too much on the minutiae of engine design rather than the impact of steam engines and the stories of the people that built them for my taste.