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Who Really Invented The Telegraph?

Posted by timothy on from the trick-question dept.

Fat Boy unslim writes "It's been 250 years since the publication of a paper describing the theory behind sending messages down a wire using electricity. Unfortunately, no one knows who wrote it." If you thought the answer was as simple as "Morse," this article may come as a surprise.

6 of 281 comments (clear)

  1. The Victorian Internet by Hanashi · · Score: 5, Informative
    If you really want the reference for the technical and social history of the telegraph, check out Tom Standage's The Victorian Internet: The Remarkable Story of the Telegraph and Nineteenth Century's On-Line Pioneers.

    I read this book shortly after it came out in paperback, and I have to say that it's fascinating. It discusses various early telegraph systems in detail, including those not using electricity at al. More importantly, it draws startling parallels between the telegraph's influence on 19th century society and the Internet's influence today, especially during the dotcom boom. This is a must-read for the true geek.

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    Check out my eclectic infosec blog at InfoSecPotpou
  2. Morse invented the serial port :) by hpa · · Score: 5, Informative

    Morse certainly didn't invent the first electrical telegraph; he just invented the most practical one. Most of the previous electrical telegraphs had been either analog and highly unreliable or required multiple wires; some were even both.

    The Morse telegraph required only one wire (the return went through the Earth), which was a huge cost savings in the time before cheap insulation, and yet was a binary on/off transmission with the associated reliability advantages. The original Morse code (sometimes called "railway Morse") used four symbol lengths; once the Morse telegraph spread and eventually went wireless the "international Morse code" simplified this to only two symbol lengths; this is the code which is invariably used even today.

  3. Other information on CM's identity by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    Pasted From: http://www.globusz.com/ebooks/Telegraph/00000011.h tm

    The identity of 'C. M.,' who dated his letter from Renfrew, has not been established beyond a doubt. There is a tradition of a clever man living in Renfrew at that time, and afterwards in Paisley, who could 'licht a room wi' coal reek (smoke), and mak' lichtnin' speak and write upon the wa'.' By some he was thought to be a certain Charles Marshall, from Aberdeen; but it seems likelier that he was a Charles Morrison, of Greenock, who was trained as a surgeon, and became connected with the tobacco trade of Glasgow. In Renfrew he was regarded as a kind of wizard, and he is said to have emigrated to Virginia, where he died.

  4. Re:Give societies their due by JAZ · · Score: 3, Informative

    Reminds me of a great show a few years back called Connections (I think.) I should know the name of the host and find some links, but I don't have any and my first google attempt didn't help.

    Basically it followed the flow of technology backwards. Like "The space shuttle would not have been possible with out an ancient egyptian plow." and then documents key technologies that make up a modern civilization.

    Anyway it was a great show.

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    "Karma can only be portioned out by the cosmos." -- Homer Simpson
  5. Columbus wasn't a Spaniard! by ArsSineArtificio · · Score: 3, Informative

    Columbus was a Spaniard

    Columbus was Genovese! He was only working for the Spanish.

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    All employees must wash hands before seeking equitable relief.
  6. Re:Give societies their due by pubjames · · Score: 3, Informative

    James Burke's connections:

    http://home.earthlink.net/~billotto/Connections. ht ml

    I remember it being very compelling to watch.