For a list of submarines named Nautilus, see Nautilus (submarine). for an account of the mollusc called the nautilus, see nautilus.

---

Nautilus was the first practical submarine, commissioned by Napoleon and designed by the American inventor Robert Fulton. Testing of this craft was successfully carried out in France in 1800-1801, when Fulton and three mechanics descended to a depth of 25 feet. Further tests in Britain proved successful in destroying heavy brigs in 1805.