First steam engine in USIn 1753, the first steam engine imported into the American colonies landed at New York City on the S.S. Irene, which left London on 6 Jun 1753. It was installed to pump water from a copper mine owned by Col. John Schuyler in New Barbadoes Neck (now North Arlington), New Jersey. It arrived there on 25 Sep 1753, was erected, and in operation on 12 Mar 1755. Josiah Hornblower, 25, who came with it from England, superintended the engine, becoming America's first steam engineer. Arent Schuyler, who had owned a large tract of land since 1695, started the copper mine after a slave turned up green copper ore while plowing. He exported the ore to England. His son John later took over managing the mine after his death.*«[Image: Schematic of the Newcomen engine, or atmospheric engine, of the period which was already in use in the tin mines of Cornwall. The building in which it was housed is not shown.] |
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