Samuel F. B. Morse

Samuel Finley Breese Morse (April 27, 1791 – April 2, 1872) was an American inventor, and painter of portraits and historic scenes.

Middle years

In 1837, Morse had invented the electrical telegraph, based on Hans Christian Ørsted's discovery in 1820 of the relationship between electricity and magnetism. In 1832, Morse developed the idea of electromagnetic telegraphy, during conversations with Dr. Charles T. Jackson. (Later, Dr. Jackson would bring a legal case over the telegraph, which he would ultimately lose.) Morse prototyped an electromagnetic recording telegraph and dot-and-dash code system (a signalling alphabet) in his sketchbook.

Related Topics:
1837 - Invented - Electrical telegraph - Hans Christian Ørsted - Electricity - Magnetism - 1832 - Charles T. Jackson - Prototype - Electromagnetic - Record - Telegraph - Dot-and-dash code system - Alphabet - Sketchbook

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When studying in Rome in 1830, he became acquainted with the Danish sculptor Bertel Thorvaldsen; the two artists would sometimes take walks together at night among the ancient ruins. Morse also painted Thorvaldsen's portrait. In the fall of 1835, Morse built and demonstrated a recording telegraph with a moving paper ribbon. At the beginning of 1836, Morse demonstrated his recording telegraph to Dr. Leonard Gale. Also in 1836, Morse ran unsuccessfully for Mayor of New York on a Nativist ticket, receiving 1,496 votes.

Related Topics:
Rome - Danish - Sculptor - Bertel Thorvaldsen - 1835 - 1836 - Leonard Gale - Mayor of New York - Nativist

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In 1836 Morse finished his first working prototype of the telegraph. It used a one-element battery and a simple electromagnet. This prototype only worked over short distances of about 40ft or less. In winter 1836-1837 Morse showed his prototype to Leonard Gale, professor of chemistry at New York University, where Morse taught painting. Gale was aware of the works of Joseph Henry on electromagnetic relays. Based on this knowledge Gale suggested several improvements and also urged Morse to read Henry's 1831 paper, which described these improvements. With these improvements Morse and Gale were able to record messages through ten miles of wire.

Related Topics:
New York University - Joseph Henry

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In September of the same year, Alfred Vail, then student at New York University, witnessed a demonstration of the telegraph. Vail's father Stephen Vail was a well-connected tinkerer, inventor, lawyer, community leader, and technology investor. He helped to finance the work on the telegraph.

Related Topics:
Alfred Vail - New York University - Stephen Vail

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In 1838, Morse changed the telegraphic cipher, from a telegraphic dictionary with number code to a code for each letter. Whether Alfred Vail was the actual inventor of this simpler code has been debated since the earliest days. According to much of the literature on the subject Vail was indeed the actual inventor, although Morse and his descendants claimed otherwise.

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On January 24, Morse demonstrated the telegraph to colleges. On February 8, 1838, Morse first publicly demonstrated the electrical telegraph to a scientific committee at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (the first time it worked was on January 6). On February 21, Morse demonstrated the telegraph to President Martin Van Buren and his cabinet. Shortly afterwards, U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Commerce chairman F. O. J. Smith (Maine) became a partner with Morse (and proposed a bill in Congress, which didn't pass, for a $30,000 telegraph line project).

Related Topics:
Franklin Institute - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - January 6 - Martin Van Buren - Cabinet - U.S. House of Representatives - Committee on Commerce - Chairman - F. O. J. Smith - Maine - Telegraph line

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