The North River Steamboat is widely regarded as the world's first vessel to demonstrate the viability of using steam propulsion for commercial water transportation. Built in 1807, the North River Steamboat operated on the Hudson River (at that time often known as the North River) between New York and Albany. She was built by the wealthy investor and politician Robert Livingston and inventor and entrepreneur Robert Fulton. On her maiden voyage she left New York City, stopped briefly at Clermont Manor, and continued on to Albany up the Hudson River, completing in just under 60 hours a journey which had previously taken nearly a week by sloop. In 1811 Fulton and Livingston became members of the Erie Canal Commission. Robert Livingston (November 27, 1746 - February 26, 1813) was an American lawyer, politician, diplomat from New York, and a Founding Father of the United States. Robert Fulton (November 14, 1765 - February 24, 1815) was an American engineer and inventor.