Sylvester H. Roper
Sylvester H. Roper | |
|---|---|
Roper circa 1890 | |
| Born | November 24, 1823 |
| Died | June 1, 1896 (aged 72) Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Cause of death | Heart failure, motorcycle crash |
| Occupations |
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| Known for | Roper steam velocipede, repeating shotgun, shotgun choke |
| Spouse | Almira D. Hill |
| Children | Charles Roper |
| Awards | Motorcycle Hall of Fame (2002) |
Sylvester Howard Roper (November 24, 1823 – June 1, 1896) was an American inventor and a pioneering builder of early automobiles and motorcycles from Boston, Massachusetts. In 1863 he built a steam carriage, one of the earliest automobiles. The Roper steam velocipede of 1867–1869 may have been the first motorcycle, for which he was inducted into the Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 2002. He is also the inventor of the shotgun choke and a revolver repeating shotgun.