Today in Technology History

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April 1

Usually, a Frenchman named Lenoir gets credit for inventing the internal combustion engine in about 1860, but an obscure New England inventor actually beat him to it by nearly four decades.

Samuel Morey was born in Connecticut in 1762; he grew up in New Hampshire. Morey's father operated a river ferry, and as a lad Morey worked on the ferry and fixed equipment for neighboring farmers.

Morey was one of the many inventors who played a part in the early history of the steamboat; it was his idea to use two paddle-wheels instead of one. He also invented and patented a method of using steam to automatically turn a cooking spit -- essentially inventing a steam-powered rotisserie.

But Morey did not confine himself to steam power. He also found a way to burn what he called "water gas" -- a combination of water vapor, turpentine vapor, and air. He found many uses for this combustible concoction, including as a fuel to heat his house at a time when everyone else used wood or coal.

At some point in the 1820s, Morey accidentally ignited some water gas and the resulting explosion was "more violent than that of gunpowder." He harnessed that power in an internal combustion engine (complete with a simple carburetor) which he patented on April 1, 1826. He used his new engines to power a boat and various other contraptions.

Morey could not convince the world that his engine was a good idea; maybe he was born ahead of his time, or perhaps he just didn't know the right people. He died in 1843 at the age of 80.

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