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 engineer and inventor. He was active in England and the United States. Ericsson collaborated on the design of the railroad steam locomotive Novelty (lo ...

. 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 Sir Francis Pettit Smith (9 February 1808 – 12 February 1874) was an English inventor and, along with John Ericsson, one of the inventors of the screw propeller. He was also the driving force behind the construction of the world's first s ...

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 Departments of the Government of the United Kingdom, department of the Government of the United Kingdom that was responsible for the command of the Royal Navy. Historically, its titular head was the Lord High Admiral of the ...

, but rejected by them. Ogden now introduced Ericsson to one of his business associates, Robert Stockton, who would become Ericsson's next patron and induce him to move to America. Ogden was a member of the Society of Cincinnati. He was buried at Arnos Vale Cemetery,

Bristol Bristol () is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, the most populous city in the region. Built around the River Avon, Bristol, River Avon, it is bordered by t ...

, 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 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."

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