Electrical Telegraph

Q: What did the electrical telegraph do?

The electrical telegraph was first used from 1838, and it sent electrical impulses along a cable, which could then be decoded into messages.

Q: Who invented the electrical telegraph?

The electrical telegraph was first patented in 1837 by Cook and Wheatstone in England. At the same time in the United States, Samuel Morse developed a telegraph machine, but this was not tested out until 1844.

Q: What is the difference between telegraph and electric telegraph?

The difference between a telegraph system and an electrical telegraph is the former uses any type of visual signal (e.g. a fire or flag) while the latter uses electrical impulses sent along a cable.

Q: What was the benefit of the electrical telegraph?

The benefit of the electrical telegraph was the high speed with which messages could be sent and received, a matter of minutes or less compared to hours, days, or even weeks using traditional messenger systems.

Mark Cartwright

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Definition

The electrical telegraph was invented in 1837 by William Fothergill Cook (1806-1879) and Charles Wheatstone (1802-1875) in England with parallel innovations being made by Samuel Morse (1791-1872) in the United States. The telegraph, once wires and undersea cables had connected countries and continents, transformed communications so that messages could be sent and received anywhere in just minutes.

More about: Electrical Telegraph

Timeline

1837
William Fothergill Cook and Charles Wheatstone first patent the electrical telegraph.
1838
The first successful commercial use of the electrical telegraph for the Great Western Railway between Paddington Station and West Drayton.
24 May 1844
Samuel Morse uses his morse code electrical telegraph for the first time.
1850
Alexander Bain invents an electrical telegraph machine that can send and receive messages using perforated strips of paper.
1856
The Western Union Telegraph Company is created in the United States.
1866
The SS Great Eastern lays the first transatlantic electrical telegraph cable.