“He absented himself a week, having gone to Little Britain township to spend a few days at his aunt’s; and while there he planned and completed a small working model of a fishing boat, with paddle-wheels.  On leaving his aunt’s, he placed the model in the garret, with a request that it should not be destroyed.  Many years afterward, that simple model was the attraction of friends, and became, instead of lumber in the garret, an ornament in the aunt’s parlor, who prized it highly.  That model was the result of Robert’s fishing excursions with Christopher Gumpf; and when he returned from his aunt’s he told Christopher that he must make a set of paddles to work at the sides of the boat, to be operated by a double crank, and then they could propel the old gentleman’s fishing-boat with greater ease.  Two arms or pieces of timber were then fastened together at right angles, with a paddle at each end, and the crank was attached to the boat across it near the stern, with a paddle operating on a pivot as a rudder; and Fulton’s first invention was tried on the Conestoga River, opposite Rockford, in the presence of Peter and Christopher Gumpf.  The boys were so pleased with the experiment, that they hid the paddles in the bushes on the shore, lest others might use and break them, and attached them to the boat whenever they chose; and thus did they enjoy very many fishing excursions.”

This was the first experiment in the science of navigation attempted by the man who afterward became the author of a new system.

Having chosen the profession of an artist and portrait painter, young Fulton removed to Philadelphia at the age of seventeen, and remained there, pursuing his vocation, until the completion of his twenty-first year.  He formed there the acquaintance of Benjamin Franklin, by whom he was much noticed.  His success was rapid, and upon attaining his majority he was enabled to purchase and stock a farm of eighty-four acres in Washington County, Pennsylvania, which he gave to his mother for a home as long as she should live.  Having thus insured her comfort, he went to England for the purpose of completing his studies in his profession.  He took with him letters to Benjamin West, then at the height of his fame, and living in London.  He was cordially received by Mr. West, who was also a native of Pennsylvania, and remained an inmate of his family for several years.  West was then the President of the Royal Academy of Great Britain, and was thus enabled to extend to Fulton, to whom he became deeply attached, many advantages, both social and professional, of which the young artist was prompt to avail himself.