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Top Canadian Inventions Series

Fog Horn (1853) Invented by Robert Foulis(1796-1866)

Robert Foulis, a transplanted Scot intending to travel to Ohio, was diverted to the Canadian Maritime provinces by poor weather in 1818, prompting him to settle first in Halifax and then in Saint John. Although Foulis invented the steam fog-horn in 1853, said to be one of the most important navigational aids ever invented, unfortunately for Foulis and his heirs (a warning to all neo phyte inventors!), he failed to patent his invention, and an American later did so, profiting from Foulis’ neglect.