Francis Barber Ogden (1783-1857) was United States consul, in Liverpool from 1829 to 1840 and then in Bristol. Ogden had a long-standing interest in steam engines and, soon after becoming consul in Liverpool, attended the Rainhill Trials where he met and befriended

John Ericsson John Ericsson (born Johan Ericsson; July 31, 1803 – March 8, 1889) was a Swedish-American inventor. He was active in England and the United States. Ericsson collaborated on the design of the railroad steam locomotive ''Novelty'', which com ...

. Ogden helped finance Ericsson's researches over the next few years, while personally patenting Ericsson's inventions in the United States - which Ericsson, not being an American citizen, would not have been able to do before 1836. These inventions culminated in that of screw-propelled steamboats - for these, Ericsson's rival Francis Pettit Smith obtained the British patent but Ogden, on Ericsson's behalf, obtained the American patent. Ericsson named his first screw-propelled steamboat ''Francis B. Ogden'' - this boat was demonstrated to the

British Admiralty The Admiralty was a department of the Government of the United Kingdom responsible for the command of the Royal Navy until 1964, historically under its titular head, the Lord High Admiral – one of the Great Officers of State. For much of it ...

, but rejected by them. Ogden now introduced Ericsson to one of his business associates,

Robert Stockton Robert Field Stockton (August 20, 1795 – October 7, 1866) was a United States Navy commodore, notable in the capture of California during the Mexican–American War. He was a naval innovator and an early advocate for a propeller-driven, steam-p ...

, who would become Ericsson's next patron and induce him to move to America. Ogden was a member of the

Society of Cincinnati The Society of the Cincinnati is a fraternal, hereditary society founded in 1783 to commemorate the American Revolutionary War that saw the creation of the United States. Membership is largely restricted to descendants of military officers wh ...

. He was buried at Arnos Vale Cemetery,

Bristol Bristol () is a city, ceremonial county and unitary authority in England. Situated on the River Avon, it is bordered by the ceremonial counties of Gloucestershire to the north and Somerset to the south. Bristol is the most populous city in ...

, England. His monument there consists of an obelisk adorned with a coat of arms: ''Paly of 12, a chief charged with thirty-two mullets (five-pointed stars) 12,9 and 11. Above the shield a bald-headed eagle displayed holding in its dexter claw an olive branch, in its sinister claw a sheaf of six arrows. Beneath the shield, on a scroll, the motto: E Pluribus Unum.'' The inscription runs: "Sacred to the Memory of Francis ..... Ogden, A Member of the Society of the Cincinnati Swan, Sir Conrad, "The Northcotes and Two Monuments to One of the Great Events in History." in Campbell-Kease, John, editor, ''Tribute to an Armorist: Essays for John Brooke-Little.'' The Heraldry Society, 44/45 Museum Street, London WC1A 1LY. 2000. and Consul of the United States of America for this Port. Born at

Boonton Boonton is a town in Morris County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2020 United States census, the town's population was 8,815, an increase of 468 (+5.6%) from the 2010 census count of 8,347, which in turn reflected a decline of 149 (− ...

in the State of New Jersey, U.S.A., March 3rd 1783. Died at his Residence in this City, July 4th 1857, aged 74 years, having Served his Country during a Period of Twenty-Eight Years."

References

See also