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.