More on John Stevens • Mini-biography of John Stevens

John Stevens and Railroads

Colonel John Stevens is considered to be the father of American railroads. In 1826, John Stevens demonstrated the feasibility of steam locomotion on a circular experimental track constructed on his estate in Hoboken, New Jersey, three years before George Stephenson perfected a practical steam locomotive in England. The first railroad charter in North America was granted to John Stevens in 1815. Grants to others followed, and work soon began on the first operational railroads. John Stevens, with able sons to help him, erected a circular railway at Hoboken as early as 1826, on which he ran a locomotive at the rate of twelve miles an hour.

John Stevens and Steamboats
Robert Fulton's Clermont was undoubtedly the pioneer of practicable steamboats. But the Phoenix, built by John Stevens, followed close on the Clermont. And its engines were built in America, while those of the Clermont had been imported from England. John Stevens had, in 1804, built a successful screw steam vessels; and his paddle steamer of 1807, the "Phoenix," was very possibly a better piece of engineering than the Clermont.

Moreover, in June, 1808, the Phoenix stood to sea, and made the first ocean voyage in the history of steam navigation. Because of a monopoly of the Hudson, which the New York Legislature had granted to Livingston and Robert Fulton, John Stevens was compelled to send his ship to the Delaware. 

John Stevens Part 2
John Stevens fights for railroads rather than canals be built in America.

The Steven Brothers
The Stevens brothers, sons of John Stevens, were engaged in the construction of the Camden and Amboy Railroad.

John Stevens and Sons
John Stevens and his sons were early rivals to Robert Fulton.

Steamboats, Locomotives, and John Stevens
Boilers were used on a locomotive built by John Stevens and later used on steamboats.

The Machine of John Stevens and Sons
Early life of John Stevens and his and his sons work as machinists. 

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