Continental Congressman. He served as a Captain in the New Jersey Militia during the French and Indian War. Elected as a Delegate from New Jersey to the Continental Congress, serving from 1785 to 1786. A life-long engineer, he was renowned for building the first steam engine in the American colonies. Born into a family of distinguished mining engineers, he emigrated to America at the invitation of William Schuyler, and in 1753 built a steam-driven pump for Schuyler's copper mine in the New Jersey Meadowlands near present day Kearny. The technology involved was a closely-guarded trade secret in Britain, but the 23-year-old Hornblower was able to recreate a similar system from memory and improve upon the design. He also developed the first stamp mill in the Americas in what is now Belleville, New Jersey. During the Revolutionary War, he was considered such a valuable asset to the American cause that the British tried to kidnap him in 1781.
Continental Congressman. He served as a Captain in the New Jersey Militia during the French and Indian War. Elected as a Delegate from New Jersey to the Continental Congress, serving from 1785 to 1786. A life-long engineer, he was renowned for building the first steam engine in the American colonies. Born into a family of distinguished mining engineers, he emigrated to America at the invitation of William Schuyler, and in 1753 built a steam-driven pump for Schuyler's copper mine in the New Jersey Meadowlands near present day Kearny. The technology involved was a closely-guarded trade secret in Britain, but the 23-year-old Hornblower was able to recreate a similar system from memory and improve upon the design. He also developed the first stamp mill in the Americas in what is now Belleville, New Jersey. During the Revolutionary War, he was considered such a valuable asset to the American cause that the British tried to kidnap him in 1781.
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