The Invention of the Communication Engine 'Telegraph'

This fascinating book about the invention of the telegraph is part of an expansive series by author B. J. G. van der Kooij, a specialist in innovation paradigms. Each book offers an in-depth exploration of a general-purpose technology, from the steam engine to the Internet, that lies at the foundation of today's global society.

The range of inventions that led to the electric telegraph begins with the initial research of two Germans in the 1830s: Gauss and Weber. Soon experimental telegraphs developed on both sides of the Atlantic (i.e., Morse in the US and Cooke & Wheatstone in England) brought several decades of explosive business growth, fueled by fierce competition, a flurry of mergers and acquisitions, and the evolution of a titanic infrastructure of telegraph lines and offices.

But these developments are only part of the story. In his extensive analysis, van der Kooij lays out a richly textured tapestry of forces that weave together to form the context for the development of telegraphic communication. By focusing in on what drives creative individuals, he offers a unique perspective on the interplay between technological innovation and social-economic change.