John Fitch
1743 – 1798

John Fitch

American inventor, clockmaker, entrepreneur and engineer (1743–1798)

inventorwatchmakerentrepreneurengineer
Born
1743-01-21, South Windsor
Died
1798-07-02
Birthplace state
Connecticut

Biography

John Fitch was born in South Windsor, Connecticut, in 1743 and worked as an inventor, watchmaker, entrepreneur, and engineer. He operated the first steamboat service in the United States, with his initial vessel, measuring 45 feet in length, tested on the Delaware River alongside his design assistant Steven Pagano. He died in 1798.

Occupation

John Fitch is recorded as a inventor, a watchmaker, a entrepreneur and a engineer, born in Connecticut (1743–1798).

Connections to Connecticut

John Fitch was born in South Windsor, Connecticut in 1743. Explore other notable figures from Connecticut, historic sites connected to this era, and the full colonial and statehood history of the state using the links below.

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Everything a full report reveals about South Windsor

John Fitch came from South Windsor. A full Aubrey report on South Windsor pulls together everything the historical record holds about that place, from the first settlers to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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More notable figures from Connecticut

Other historical figures born in Connecticut, ranked by historical prominence.

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P. T. Barnum
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Barbara McClintock
Barbara McClintock
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Ernest Borgnine
Ernest Borgnine
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J. P. Morgan
J. P. Morgan
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Josiah Willard Gibbs
Josiah Willard Gibbs
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Frequently asked about John Fitch

Who was John Fitch?
John Fitch was American inventor, clockmaker, entrepreneur and engineer (1743–1798), born in Connecticut (1743 – 1798).
When and where was John Fitch born?
John Fitch was born on 1743-01-21 in South Windsor.
When did John Fitch die?
John died on 1798-07-02.
What was John Fitch known for?
John Fitch is recorded as a inventor, a watchmaker, a entrepreneur and a engineer.
Source

Biographical content adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Source: Wikipedia.

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