History of Schodack Landing, (Rensselaer County) New York United States of America

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Biographies:

The Biography of Isaac Newton

Isaac Newton, naval architect, was born at Schodack Landing, Rensselaer county, N.Y., Jan. 16, 1794; son of Abner Newton, an officer in the Continental army during the Revolutionary war. He attended the district school, learned the shipbuilding trade in Hudson, N.Y., and engaged in building sailing vessels for the river and whaling trades. He built many of the first steamboats used on the Hudson river; was the founder of the People's line between Albany and New York, and extended his business to the great lakes. He was the first to substitute anthracite coal for wood as fuel on a steamboat. He subsequently turned his attention to building ocean steamers for the Collins and other lines. He was also a pioneer in railroading and one of the projectors of the New York Central, the Lake Shore and the Michigan Southern railroads. He died in New York city, Nov. 22, 1858.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor