The First American Innovator
Mix Tapes and Stuff takes place in a fictional town called Schuyler. The truth is there was a family called Schuyler that owned the land that would eventually become Kearny, Lyndhurst, and North Arlington in New Jersey. They could afford this because the land was rich in copper so they owned several copper mines. They needed workers to mine the land and they needed scientists to test the ground for minerals.
They contacted friends and were told of a young inventor name Josiah Hornblower. This person would change their fortunes.
Josiah Hornblower was born in England in February 1729. He studied mechanics and math and working along with his father, he became well known for working with machinery. Steam engines were just starting to work and mechanics were working to improve the engine.
Hornblower came to America at the request of the Schuyler family in 1753. He took what he knew from English mechanics and some sources say he also took parts and plans too and came to the colonies to built the first working steam engine.
I get confused on this last part because New Jersey had three big innovators in steam technology. Josiah Hornblower perfected the steam engine that will be used in mining and the removal of debris from sites.
John Fitch invented the steam engine powered boat. He ran trials of his boat up and down the Delaware River. His house is still open for tours today. Part of Route 29 in Trenton, New Jersey is called the John Fitch Parkway.
Robert Fulton created the first successful commercial steam powered boating line. Fitch's engines were too big, whereas Fulton was able to simplify the engine for commercial use.
Hornblower's success with his engine and it's use in mining made him every rich. He was so rich that he was able to retire from inventing within a few years.
He married Elizabeth Kingsland. The Kingsland family owned much of the land will eventually become Lyndhurst. There are still streets named after this family. They opened a store and Josiah became a merchant.
He was so successful at that as well that he was a delegate for the Continental Congress. While he doesn't sign any historical documents of note, like the Declaration of Independence, there are sources that say he was there.
After a full and successful life, Josiah Hornblower passed away in January 1809.
Josiah Hornblower is such an interesting person that history doesn't pay enough attention to. He will appear in the Mix Tapes series again. I'll have more posts about Josiah Hornblower.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josiah_Hornblower
www.oldbelleville.org/josiah.html
They contacted friends and were told of a young inventor name Josiah Hornblower. This person would change their fortunes.
Josiah Hornblower was born in England in February 1729. He studied mechanics and math and working along with his father, he became well known for working with machinery. Steam engines were just starting to work and mechanics were working to improve the engine.
Hornblower came to America at the request of the Schuyler family in 1753. He took what he knew from English mechanics and some sources say he also took parts and plans too and came to the colonies to built the first working steam engine.
I get confused on this last part because New Jersey had three big innovators in steam technology. Josiah Hornblower perfected the steam engine that will be used in mining and the removal of debris from sites.
John Fitch invented the steam engine powered boat. He ran trials of his boat up and down the Delaware River. His house is still open for tours today. Part of Route 29 in Trenton, New Jersey is called the John Fitch Parkway.
Robert Fulton created the first successful commercial steam powered boating line. Fitch's engines were too big, whereas Fulton was able to simplify the engine for commercial use.
Hornblower's success with his engine and it's use in mining made him every rich. He was so rich that he was able to retire from inventing within a few years.
He married Elizabeth Kingsland. The Kingsland family owned much of the land will eventually become Lyndhurst. There are still streets named after this family. They opened a store and Josiah became a merchant.
He was so successful at that as well that he was a delegate for the Continental Congress. While he doesn't sign any historical documents of note, like the Declaration of Independence, there are sources that say he was there.
After a full and successful life, Josiah Hornblower passed away in January 1809.
Josiah Hornblower is such an interesting person that history doesn't pay enough attention to. He will appear in the Mix Tapes series again. I'll have more posts about Josiah Hornblower.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josiah_Hornblower
www.oldbelleville.org/josiah.html