Weston Fulton

Biography Early life Fulton was born in Hale County, Alabama, the son of William and Mary Hudson Fulton. To eliminate this daily walk, Fulton designed an automatic gauge mechanism, which was essentially a float-actuated device that kept a continuous record of river levels.

During World War I, Fulton developed the firing mechanism for the depth charge, a weapon used by surface ships to destroy submarines. Knoxville's first city manager, Louis Brownlow, was hired after being interviewed by Fulton. Brownlow proved controversial, however, and his supporters were ousted in 1927. Fulton never ran for office again, and advised his children to avoid politics. Fulton had a workshop on the second floor of the house. The house is now used as the university's student counseling center, though it has been slated for demolition. In the early 1900s, Fulton lived in the house at 1202 Clinch Avenue, which is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places as a contributing property in the Fort Sanders Historic District.

Knoxville's Fulton High School, which opened in 1951, is named in honor of Weston Fulton. Several of Fulton's blueprints as well as an oil portrait donated by his family are on display in the school.