The first commercially successful steamboat to travel to Albany was Robert Fulton’s North River Steamboat (often colloquially called the Clermont), which made its maiden voyage in August 1807. It departed the city of New York on August 17 and arrived in Albany roughly 32 hours later, proving the viability of steam-powered commercial vessels.
Sept. 26, 1809: The Balance, and Columbian Repository, Hudson, NY
On Saturday three steam boats came up the Hudson together, the old North River Steam Boat, and the new Car of Neptune belonging to Messrs. [Chancellor Robert R.] Livingston and [Robert] Fulton, of Clermont, [Columbia County, NY] and the Rariton [sometimes spelled Raritan], owned by Mr. J. R. Livingston [John R. Livingston, the brother of Chancellor Livingston]. The old boat continued her course as usual, the new boat (Car of Neptune, Capt. [John] Roorbach) goes to Albany, to start from there on Saturday next, and the Rariton returned to New-York…