The Nautilus (Fulton) reference article from the English Wikipedia on 24-Apr-2004
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Nautilus (Fulton)

For a list of submarines named Nautilus, see Nautilus (submarine). for an account of the mollusc called the nautilus, see nautilus.

Nautilus was the first practical submarine, commissioned by Napoleon and designed by the American inventor Robert Fulton. Testing of this craft was successfully carried out in France in 1800-1801, when Fulton and three mechanics descended to a depth of 25 feet. Further tests in Britain proved successful in destroying heavy brigs in 1805.