Sylvester roper biography
- Sylvester Howard Roper (November 24, 1823 – June 1, 1896) was an.
- American inventor and transportation pioneer who built a steam-powered motorcycle in 1869.
- Sylvester H. Roper, second child or Merrick Roper, was born in Francistown, Vermont, November 24, 1823.
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Sylvester H. Roper
American inventor and builder of vehicles
Sylvester H. Roper | |
|---|---|
Boston Daily Globe obituary | |
| Born | (1823-11-24)November 24, 1823 Francestown, New Hampshire, U.S. |
| Died | June 1, 1896(1896-06-01) (aged 72) Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Cause of death | Heart failure, motorcycle crash |
| Occupation(s) | Machinist, inventor |
| Known for | Roper steam velocipede, repeating shotgun, shotgun choke |
| Spouse | Almira D. Hill |
| Children | Charles Roper |
| Awards | Motorcycle Hall of Fame (2002) |
Sylvester Howard Roper (November 24, 1823 – June 1, 1896)[1][2] was an American inventor and a pioneering builder of early automobiles and motorcycles from Boston, Massachusetts. In 1863 he built a steam carriage, one of the earliest automobiles.[3][4][5][6][7] The Roper steam velocipede of 1867–1869 may have been the first motorcycle,[8][9][10][11][12] for which he was inducted into the Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 2002.&# Notes: Sylvester H. Roper, second child or Merrick Roper, was born in Francistown, Vermont, November 24, 1823. He married first Almira D. Hill of Peterboro, Vermont, April 23, 1845, and (second) Ellen. F. Robinson, of Lynn, Massachusetts, October 28, 1873. When a boy, he displayed a remarkable degree of precocity in mechanics, and his career as an inventor proved him to be without a rival in mechanical genius among those who have gone out from Francistown. At twelve years of age, although he had not seen a steam engine, he constructed a small stationary engine which is now preserved in the laboratory of the Francistown Academy. Two years later he made a locomotive, and shortly afterward saw at Nashua for the first time in his life a railroad locomotive.He left home early in life and followed the trade of machinist in Nashua, Manchester and Worcester. In 1854 he became a resident of Hopedale and there spent the remainder of his life. He invented the handstitch sewing machine which was in many respects an improvement on the earlier machines. He invented a hot air engine in 1861, w
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Complete name: Sylvester Howard Roper Birth date: 24.Nov.1823 Birth Place: Francestown, Hillsborough County, NH, United States Death date: 01.Jun.1896 Death Place: Cambridge, Middlesex County, MA, United States Nationality: United States Gender: male Age at death: 72 Event date: 01.Jun.1896 Series: not applicable Race: Event type: speed record attempt Country: United States (Massachusetts) Venue: Charles River Bicycle Racetrack Variant: 1/3-mile wooden oval Role: rider Vehicle type: motorcycle Vehicle sub-type: steam-powered bicycle Vehicle brand/model: Roper Vehicle number: ??
Sylvester Howard Roper was an American inventor and transport pioneer. He is remembered as the builder of the first steam-engined motorcycle.
Born in Francestown, New Hampshire, Roper left home early to pursue a living as a machinist. He worked in several towns before settling in the Boston area in 1854. A tireless inventor, Roper spent many years developing a stea •