1985 Death Marion Byron, actress (Steamboat Bill Jr), dies at 73 1953 Birthday Ricky "Dragon" Steamboat, Richard Blood, wrestler, NWA/WWF/WCW/AWA 1932 Event Steamboat SS Observation explodes in New York City East River (71 killed) 1928 Event Walt Disney's Mickey Mouse debuts in New York in "Steamboat Willie" 1928 Event Mickey Mouse's screen debut (Steamboat Willie at Colony Theater New York City) 1928 Event Walt Disney's "Steamboat Willie" is released 1914 Event 1st steamboat passes through Panama Canal 1895 Birthday Buster [Joseph F] Keaton, actor, Navigator, Steamboat Bill, Jr 1865 Event Steamboat "Sultana" explodes in Mississippi River, kills up to 1,547. 1450 of 2000 paroled Union POWs on their way home are killed when river steamer "Sultana" blows up 1859 Event 1st steamboat sails, Red River 1849 Event 1st regular steamboat service to California starts 1837 Event Canadian militia destroy Caroline, a U.S. steamboat docked at Buffalo 1837 Event Steamboat "Home" sinks off Okracoke North Carolina killing 100 1823 Event 1st steamboat to navigate the Mississippi River arrives at Ft. Snelling 1817 Event Mississippi River steamboat service begins 1816 Event 1st double decked steamboat, Washington, arrives in New Orleans 1815 Death Robert Fulton, steamboat pioneer, dies 1811 Event 1st Ohio River steamboat leaves Pittsburgh for New Orleans 1809 Event 1st U.S. steamboat to a make an ocean voyage leaves New York for Philadelphia 1809 Event Robert Fulton patents steamboat 1807 Event Robert Fulton begins operating his steamboat 1807 Event Robert Fulton's steamboat Clermont begins 1st trip up Hudson River 1791 Event John Fitch grants U.S. patent for his working steamboat 1788 Event 1st U.S. steamboat patent issued, by Georgia to Briggs and Longstreet 1787 Event John Fitch's steamboat completes its tests, years before Fulton 1783 Event 1st steamboat, Pyroscaphe, 1st run in France 1765 Birthday Robert Fulton, built 1st steamboat 1743 Birthday John Fitch, inventor, had a working steamboat years before Fulton
