Gibbons v. Ogden and the Building of One of America’s Greatest Fortunes

In 1798, the state of New York awarded Robert R. Livingston, founding father, and Robert Fulton, future inventor of the steamboat, the monopoly on steamboat navigation in the state of New York, provided that they met certain technical thresholds. By 1807, Robert Fulton’s steamboat design had met the targets and Livingston and Fulton took full possession of the monopoly. In 1815, after to failing to defy the monopoly, Aaron Ogden, former Governor of New Jersey, purchased a license to operate a steamboat on the route between New York and New Jersey. He began the operation with a partner, Thomas Gibbons. In 1818, the two had a falling out and Gibbons started his own competing operation on the same route. <a href="https://medium.com/@adamraczkowski/gibbons-v-ogden-and-the-building-of-one-of-americas-greatest-fortunes-b01292d9369f">Visit Now</a>