Samuel Morey

Profession: Inventor

Nationality:

Biography: Samuel Morey was an American inventor credited with important advances in steam and internal combustion engine technology. Though less well-known than contemporaries like Robert Fulton, Morey was a significant figure in early American engineering.

Morey was initially interested in steam engines and their application in the realm of water-based transport. His experiments led to a patented design for a steam-powered paddlewheel, an early example of applying steam power to boats.

One of Morey's most significant contributions was the development of the internal combustion engine. He was awarded a patent in 1826 for a "Gas or Vapor Engine," one of the earliest examples of an internal combustion engine using a gas and air mixture.

His engine used a volatile liquid, like alcohol or turpentine, which was vaporized and then ignited to produce a controlled explosion that drove a piston. Although rudimentary by today's standards, it was a pioneering concept at the time.

Born: October 23, 1762
Birthplace: Hebron, Connecticut, USA
Star Sign: Scorpio

Died: April 17, 1843 (aged 80)