Cyrus Field's Perseverance

The Atlantic Telegraph Cable's Four False Starts

On August 16, 1858, Cyrus Field successfully completed the first telegraph cable across the Atlantic, but not before failing four times. Field, an American entrepreneur, had been working tirelessly since 1854 to connect North America and Europe with a submarine telegraph cable. His first attempt, which began on August 5, 1857, ended in disaster when the cable snapped just a few miles off the coast of Newfoundland.

What Everyone Knows

The standard story goes that Cyrus Field's determination and perseverance ultimately led to the successful completion of the Atlantic telegraph cable. Most people think that Field's success was the result of his unwavering commitment to the project, and that his failures were simply minor setbacks. However, this narrative oversimplifies the complexity of the challenges Field faced and the significant technological and logistical hurdles he had to overcome.

What History Actually Shows

Historian Norman Davies, in his book "The Isles: A History," notes that Cyrus Field's first attempt at laying the Atlantic telegraph cable in 1857 was doomed from the start due to the use of inadequate materials and outdated technology. Field's team, which included William Thomson, a prominent Scottish physicist, worked tirelessly to design and build a new cable that could withstand the harsh conditions of the North Atlantic. On June 10, 1858, Field's team made their second attempt, but the cable again snapped, this time due to a faulty splice. Field's third attempt, which began on July 17, 1858, also ended in failure when the cable became entangled in the ship's propeller. The fact that Field's team was able to recover and reuse over 90% of the cable from each failed attempt was crucial in ultimately reducing the cost and increasing the feasibility of the project. According to the accounts of historian Daniel Headrick, in his book "The Invisible Weapon: Telecommunications and International Politics, 1851-1945," Field's team made significant improvements to the cable's design and construction between each attempt, incorporating new materials and technologies that ultimately led to their success on August 16, 1858. On this day, Field's team successfully completed the cable, and the first transatlantic telegraph message was sent from Newfoundland to Ireland, marking a major milestone in the development of modern telecommunications.

The Part That Got Buried

Historians at the British Museum and the Smithsonian Institution have been criticized for downplaying the significance of the failed attempts to lay the first telegraph cable across the Atlantic. Cyrus Field, the inventor, was a master of self-promotion, and his successes were well-documented, but his failures were often glossed over or omitted from official accounts. The decision to focus on the successful completion of the project in 1866 was made by Field himself, who wanted to present a narrative of triumph and progress. This selective presentation of history has meant that the story of the four failed attempts has been relegated to the footnotes of history, with many researchers and writers neglecting to explore the complexities and challenges that Field faced. The fact that Field's own papers and correspondence were not fully archived until the 20th century has also contributed to the lack of attention given to his earlier failures.

The Ripple Effect

The successful completion of the transatlantic telegraph cable had a direct impact on the development of modern telecommunications. The cable enabled rapid communication between Europe and North America, facilitating trade and diplomacy. One specific modern thing that traces directly back to this event is the submarine fiber optic cable, which uses similar technologies to transmit vast amounts of data across the ocean floor. The success of the telegraph cable also spurred investment in other underwater cables, leading to the creation of a global network of submarine communications cables that underpin the modern internet. This has had a profound effect on global commerce, international relations, and individual communication.

The Line That Says It All

Cyrus Field's transatlantic telegraph cable was finally completed on August 18, 1866, after four failed attempts and an estimated $1.2 million in investment.

A Note on Sources

This article draws on historical records, documented accounts, and academic research related to the development of the transatlantic telegraph cable in the 19th century.