Who invented the steamboat and in what year?

Robert Fulton is credited with the development of the commercially viable steamboat, which he successfully launched in 1807. This innovation marked a significant advancement in transportation technology, allowing boats to travel faster and more efficiently on inland waterways, thus transforming trade and commerce in the United States and beyond.

The year 1807 is particularly notable because it was the year when Fulton's steamboat, known as the Clermont, made its inaugural voyage on the Hudson River. This event demonstrated the practical application of steam power for transportation. Fulton's work laid the foundation for the expansion of steamboat travel, which became a dominant mode of transport throughout the 19th century, facilitating economic growth and westward expansion.

Other individuals mentioned in the options were innovators and inventors in their own right but did not develop the steamboat. Samuel Morse is best known for inventing the telegraph and Morse code, while Eli Whitney is recognized for his contributions to the cotton gin and the development of interchangeable parts. Thus, it is Robert Fulton in 1807 who stands out as the inventor of the steamboat in this context.