Saint John in Saint John County, New Brunswick — The Atlantic Provinces (North America)
First Steam Fog Horn
La Premiere Corne de Brume a Vapeur
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, June 11, 2014
1. First Steam Fog Horn Marker
In 1854, Robert Foulis of St. John, N.B., first advocated the use of a steam horn or whistle to give warning to vessels in foggy weather. An apparatus devised by him was installed on Partridge Island in 1859. This was the first steam fog horn ever constructed or operated in the world.
French
En 1854, Robert Foulis, de Saint-Jean (N.B.), prèconisa pour la première fois l’usage d’une corne ou d’un sifflet à vapeur pour guider les navires par temps brumeux. L’appareil qu’il avait lui-même conçu fut installé dans l’ile Partridge en 1859. Ce fut la première corne de brume à vapeur construite ou mise en service dans le monde.
Erected 1928 by Historic Sites and Monument Board of Canada/Commission de lieux et monuments historique du Canada.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the Canada, Historic Sites and Monuments Board series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1854.
Location. 45° 16.302′ N, 66° 3.764′ W. Marker is in Saint John, New Brunswick, in Saint John County. Marker is at the intersection of Peters Wharf and Water Street, on the right when traveling east on Peters Wharf. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1 Peters Wharf, Saint John NB E2L 0A1, Canada. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers.
this page online
Also see . . . The Steam Fog-horn (Robert Foulis) - Canadian Inventions. One night, while walking home in a dense fog, as he approached his house, Foulis heard his daughter playing the piano but noticed that it was the very lowest notes which he could hear most clearly. Although lighthouses were of great benefit to mariners, they were naturally of no help whatever during bad weather conditions, whereas coded sound signals from the deep notes of a fog-horn could warn of the presence of rocks, even from a great distance. (Submitted on September 24, 2014, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.)
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, June 11, 2014
2. First Steam Fog Horn Marker
The marker is on the right.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on September 24, 2014, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 488 times since then and 24 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 24, 2014, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
