Winchester, George, 1787-1840

George Winchester was a lawyer and entrepreneur of Baltimore, Maryland. In 1825, he joined with a number of fellow citizens to construct a steamboat, the SUSQUEHANNA & BALTIMORE, for the purpose of navigating the Susquehanna River and carrying its trade to Baltimore. As a result of design flaws that kept the vessel laid up for rebuilding for most of the year, Winchester withdrew from the group and constructed a lighter boat, the PIONEER, at his own expense. The PIONEER made a single voyage, ascending the river as far as Williamsport on the West Branch in April-May 1826. The SUSQUEHANNA & BALTIMORE blew up with the loss of four lives on May 3, 1826, while trying to steam up the Nescopeck Falls at Berwick on the North Branch. Further attempts at steam navigation were then abandoned.