Robert Fulton (1765-1815) is best known for developing the first commercially successful steamboat. Yet, he also developed an early version of the submarine.
Getting Support for a New Ship
Fulton designed the Nautilus between 1793 and 1797 while he was living in France. He proposed to the French government that it subsidize the construction in order to achieve a balance of sea power with Great Britain.
The government turned him down because it was not considered a gentlemanly way to fight.
Fulton then proposed that he be paid nothing until the Nautilus proved itself by sinking British ships. Then he would take a percentage of the prize money.
He was turned down again.
For his third attempt, he approached the Minister of the Navy and was granted permission to move forward with construction.
Building the Nautilus
The Nautilus was built in Perrier boatyard in Rouen. The shell was copper sheets fastened to iron ribs. It was 21’ 3” long and 6’ 4” wide and propelled by a hand-cranked screw propeller. Two horizontal fins on the rudder controlled the dive angle. Air was supplied to the interior through a snorkel tube.
The shape was reminiscent of a teardrop with an observation dome. However, on the surface, it used a fan-shaped sail.
Submarine Warfare
Nautilus was designed to carry a “carcass” or mine. The mines were copper cylinders packed with 200 pounds of gunpowder and an impact detonator.
A device on the observation dome could drive an eyed spike into the hull of a wooden ship. The submarine could then release a mine attached to a long line that ran through the spike’s eye. The submarine could then leave the area and when the long line lost its slack, the mine would strike the hull and detonate
Testing the Nautilus
In test dives during July 1800, the Nautilus proved successful. Two men turning the propeller moved the submarine 360 feet in two minutes.
With this success, Fulton secured an interview with Napoleon and told him that the Nautilus could end naval warfare. Napoleon was unimpressed but he allowed Fulton to continue the work with his own money.
When Fulton actually tried to destroy a ship, the Nautilus had trouble finding the ship. Using a dragging mine also proved impractical.
The Nautilus was able to descend to 25 feet and keep three crewmen underwater for an hour.
Napoleon Takes an Interest
Given successful reports, Napoleon went to see a demonstration in September 1800. He found the vessel leaking badly and decided that Fulton was a charlatan.
Fulton turned his attention to steamboats in 1802 and left for America in 1806 to earn his fame.
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