After these experiences, the undaunted Fulton turned to a new area of exploration—steam. Through his contacts in Paris, Fulton met Robert Livingston (1746-1813), the American foreign minister to France who also owned a 20-year monopoly on steam navigation in New York State. In 1802, the two decided to form a business partnership. The following year, they launched a steamboat on the Seine river that was based on the design of fellow American John Fitch.
Fulton returned to New York later in 1803 to continue developing his designs. After four years of work, Fulton launched the Clermont, a steam-powered vessel with a speed of nearly five miles per hour. The partnership between Fulton and Livingston thrived, and Fulton had at last achieved a recognized success.
Fulton's persistence and belief in his ideas helped steam-boats become a major source of transportation on the rivers in the United States, and resulted in a significant reduction of domestic shipping costs.
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