Smith took out his patent in May, 1836; and Ericsson in the following July.
Ericsson was a born inventor.

While a boy in Sweden, he made saw mills and pumping engines, with tools invented by himself.

He learnt to draw, and his mechanical career began.

When only twelve years old, he was appointed a cadet in the Swedish corps of mechanical engineers, and in the following year he was put in charge of a section of the Gotha Ship Canal, then under construction.

Arrived at manhood, Ericsson went over to England, the great centre of mechanical industry.