[GreenKeys] World's first telegraph message

[Ralph Irish]

G/K people

Here is a small 'snippet' I contributed to our local radio club's newsletter
a year or so back.  I got it from some 'history site' on the internet.  I
realize that this does not make it 'Gospel', but it sounds rational enough,
and so far, no one has challenged it.

W8ROI

-   -   -   -


The Myth:

Samuel Morse invented the telegraph in 1844.


That was the version that Morse liked to tell.


The Truth:

Morse did invent Morse Code, but the telegraph itself was invented in 1831 by a Princeton University professor named Joseph Henry, who never bothered to patent it.  Morse's telegraph was based largely on Henry's design.  Morse "not only stole lavishly from Henry's original papers," Bryson writes, "but when stuck would call on the eminent scientist for guidance.  For years, Henry encouraged and assisted his efforts.  Yet later, when Morse had grown immensely famous and rich, he refused to acknowledge even this slightest degree of debt to his mentor."


The Myth:

The first message sent by Morse Code was, "What hath God wrought?"

The Truth:

Morse's first message was, "Everything worked well."  It wasn't until a later public demonstration that the message, "What hath God wrought?" was sent.  Morse didn't even choose the words:  the daughter of the Commissioner of Patents did that.

-   -   -   -   

And, yes, that Joseph Henry is the historic person for whom the electric unit of the "HENRY" was named.

73,

Ralph - W8ROI




On May 23, 2020, at 8:47 PM, Richard Knoppow wrote:

>    By memory did not Morse's wife suggest the line?
>    The second part sounds like a Scottish joke.
> 
> On 5/23/2020 4:50 PM, Dave Horsfall wrote:
>> In 1844 on this day, Samuel Morse tapped out "What hath God wrought" in the world's first telegraph message.
>> 
>> And no, I have no idea what either of them were wearing :-)  (It's a sort of an in-joke here.)
>> 
>> -- Dave
> 
> -- 
> Richard Knoppow
> 1oldlens1 at ix.netcom.com
> WB6KBL
> 
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