1. 1858: The transatlantic telegraph line completed
Photo: pbs
Photo: Atlantic-cable
Thanks primarily to the efforts made by American merchant Cyrus West Field, the first transatlantic telegraph line was completed on this date in 1858. There had been multiple attempts made previously but all unsuccessful. After enlisting the help of four American and British vessels in July of 1958, they all met in the middle of the Atlantic where they started laying the 2,000 mile cable. In order to keep the cable safe, they dropped it in some places as deep as two miles below the surface. Two of the ships departed for Valentia, Ireland, and the other Trinity Bay, Newfoundland. The cable was put to the test on August 16th when Queen Victoria and President James Buchanan exchanged formal introductions and complimentary messages to each other. However, the cable would only last about a month before it started to deteriorate and soon stopped working all together. It wasn’t until 1866 that a more permanent cable was laid by the British ship Great Eastern.
