Final answer:
Robert Fulton invented the steamboat engine in 1807, significantly improving water transportation with the Clermont on the Hudson River, and facilitating economic growth and western settlement.
Step-by-step explanation:
Robert Fulton invented the steamboat engine which was utilized in his first successful commercial steamboat, the Clermont, in 1807. Operating on the Hudson River, the Clermont was influential in transforming water transportation by allowing more reliable and quicker travel independent of wind. It traveled from New York City to Albany in a mere 32 hours. Fulton's innovation prompted widespread economic development, particularly in the Mississippi River Valley, and revolutionized the settlement of the West. By the 1830s, over a thousand steamboats were in operation. Yet, steamboats were prone to dangers such as boiler explosions, which eventually led to safety regulations.