Lives of the electricians — Context and Discussion

CHAPTER I. Position as a scientist--Origin and early career--Work on Ordnance Survey, and as a teacher--Student life at Marburg-- Sense of duty and early friendships _Pages_ 1-20

Subjects of study in Germany--Discovery of diamagnetism-- Investigation of it--Scientific acquaintances--Early connection with Royal Institution--Slaty cleavage--Glacier phenomena explained _Pages_ 21-41

Researches on Radiant Heat--Aqueous vapour and new glacial theory--Calorescence--Formation of clouds--Germ theory--Smoke respirator--Experiments on sound and its production by heat _Pages_ 42-59

Alpine travels--Ascent of Monte Rosa, Mont Blanc, Weisshorn, Col-du-Géant, and Piz Morteratch--Visit to Vesuvius--An American’s impressions--Visit to America--Exploration of Niagara Falls--Presidental address to British Association _Pages_ 60-83

Changes at Royal Institution--Development of electricity explained--Experimental illustrations and anecdotes--Reminiscences of Thomas Carlyle--Scientific adviser to the Trinity House _Pages_ 84-104

_PROFESSOR WHEATSTONE._

Forecasts of the telegraph--Early descriptions and history of it--Birth and early achievements of Wheatstone--Enchanted lyre or first telephone--Experiments in audition--Invention of concertina--Velocity of electricity measured--Spectrum analysis--Lightning conductors _Pages_ 105-132

Origin of telegraph--Early evidences of Wheatstone’s-- Working of first needle telegraph--Dispute with Mr. W. F. Cooke as to priority of invention--Wheatstone’s vindication --His electro-magnetic telegraph, magneto-electric machine, electric clock, printing telegraph, chronoscope, method of measuring electricity, and improved needle telegraphs _Pages_ 133-172

First uses of telegraph--Means of arresting criminals-- Early charges for telegraphing--Formation of Electric Telegraph Company--Wheatstone’s magneto-electric exploder-- His early experiments with submarine cables--Cable from Dover to Calais--Faraday on Wheatstone’s A.B.C. telegraph instrument--His automatic instruments _Pages_ 173-203

Origin of Dynamo--Invention of stereoscope--Improvement by Sir D. Brewster--Illustration of earth’s rotatory motion--Wheatstone’s cryptograph--His minor inventions-- Honours conferred on him--His death _Pages_ 204-230

Birth and education--Diverted from electricity to art-- Labours as an artist in England and America _Pages_ 231-241

Travels to study art--First conception of Recording Telegraph--Experiments with it in New York--Invention of Relay--His poverty and disappointments--His originality disputed--First exhibitions of his apparatus-- Descriptions of it--Foreign patents--Introduction of photography--Congress asked to try his telegraph-- Appropriation granted--Experimental line made and opened _Pages_ 242-278

Morse Telegraph offered to Government and declined--Rapid extension of it by Companies--Determination of longitude; Morse transmitter and sounder--First Atlantic Cable _Pages_ 279-301

Rewards of inventors--Morse patents vindicated--Rival inventions--Pioneers of practical telegraphy--Honours and emoluments of Morse--Statue in New York--Last days--Death _Pages_ 302-322

Although this work is the first of its kind relating to electricians, its design is neither novel nor tentative. Its object is not only to give a popular account of the most memorable achievements of those men who have succeeded in evolving the laws of electricity, but to convey to unscientific readers some knowledge of the nature of those laws, and the means by which they have been applied to the purposes of man.

In some senses electrical science and its practical applications might be described as the creation of the present century; and the author has been encouraged to adopt this method of giving a popular account of the great and useful work that our electricians have done by the success of a similar work dealing, in like manner, with the men and the inventions that have multiplied and cheapened the production and use of the most useful of metals.[1] An eminent reviewer of that work justly observed that “our inventors might well boast that with a piece of steel and the recent developments of the magnetic force--so far at least as manufactures and commerce are concerned--they have revolutionised the world.” It is this revolution and the men who have effected it, that this work proposes to give an account of, hoping to realise the truth of Tacitus’ observation, that “the age which is most fertile in bright examples is the best qualified to make a fair estimate of them.”