The Story of the First Transatlantic Cable

Summary

The script narrates the historical journey of the transatlantic cable, from its inception in 1839 to the first message sent in 1858. It details the challenges faced, including multiple cable breaks and failures, and the eventual success of the 1858 attempt. The narrative also contrasts early copper cables with modern fiber-optic technology, highlighting the evolution from transmitting words to billions of words per minute, and the critical role of transatlantic cables in global communication.

Takeaways

• 🌐 The concept of a transatlantic cable was initially a dream among a few engineers, which became a reality in under two decades after the invention of the Telegraph.
• 📞 The first telegraph message sent across the Atlantic in 1858 read 'Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace and goodwill towards men', marking a significant milestone in global communication.
• 🔄 The idea of a transatlantic cable was debated among experts until the first successful connection between Great Britain and France in 1850.
• 🛠️ Construction of the first transatlantic cable was led by Frederick Newton Gisborne, who, despite initial failures, later partnered with businessman Cyrus Westfield to realize the project.
• 💡 Samuel Morse served as the technical liaison for the project, and an oceanographer was consulted to ensure the feasibility of the cable's underwater deployment.
• 🏭 The first transatlantic cable was manufactured by glass Elliott & Co and RS Newall in Co, with a copper core and multiple protective layers to ensure strength and flexibility.
• 🚢 The HMS Agamemnon and the USS Niagara were the ships used to lay the cable, setting off from Southern Ireland in August 1857.
• 🔗 The initial attempts to lay the cable faced multiple failures, with the cable breaking several times and operations being suspended until the next year.
• 📅 The first successful connection of the transatlantic cable was achieved on August 16, 1858, with the first message sent shortly after.
• ⚡ The first cable failed on September 3, 1858, due to engineers increasing the voltage too much, which damaged the cable.
• 🔄 It wasn't until 1854 that the next cable was laid, and modern transatlantic cables are fiber-optic, with the first laid in 1988, capable of transmitting data at unprecedented speeds.
• 🌟 Modern fiber-optic cables have a complex protective structure and use light to transmit data, with repeaters to amplify signals over long distances, facilitating global trade and communication.

Q & A

What was the initial dream that led to the creation of the transatlantic telegraph cable?

The initial dream was to have a cable stretched across the Atlantic Ocean, which was initially considered by a few engineers after the birth of the Telegraph in 1858.

Who were the inventors of the Telegraph, and what year was it invented?

The Telegraph was invented by William Fothergill Cooke and Charles Wheatstone. Samuel Morse also contributed significantly to its development.

What was the first message sent across the Atlantic by telegraph cable, and what did it signify?

The first message was 'Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace and goodwill towards men.' It signified a momentous achievement in global communication.

Who led the construction of the northeastern cable that was set to be the largest communication cable at the time?

The construction was led by Frederick Newton Gisborne.

What was the outcome of the first attempt to lay the transatlantic cable in 1857?

The first attempt in 1857 resulted in multiple cable breaks, and the operation was suspended until the following year.

What strategy was employed for the successful laying of the transatlantic cable in 1858?

The strategy involved two ships, the HMS Agamemnon and the USS Niagara, setting off from different continents, meeting in the middle to connect the cables, and then heading back to their respective ports.

What was the technical issue that caused the failure of the first transatlantic cable?

The first cable failed due to engineers boosting the voltage from 600 to 2000 volts, which caused a short somewhere along the cable.

How did the technology of transatlantic cables evolve from the first copper cables to modern fiber-optic cables?

The first cables were made of copper, but modern transatlantic cables are all fiber-optic, with the first fiber-optic cable laid in 1988. This evolution allowed for a significant increase in data transmission speed and capacity.

What is the structure of a modern submarine fiber-optic cable, and how does it provide protection?

A modern submarine fiber-optic cable consists of optical fibers coated by flexible plastic layers, encapsulated in a protective jacket, and surrounded by multiple layers of protection including petroleum jelly, copper or aluminum tubing, polycarbonate, aluminum water barriers, steel wires, mylar tape, and an outer polyethylene jacket.

How do fiber-optic cables transmit data, and what is the speed limit for data transfer?

Fiber-optic cables transmit data through flashes of light. The speed limit for data transfer is the speed of light, with optical amplifiers used at regular intervals to boost the signal.

What is the significance of transatlantic cables in facilitating global trade and communication today?

Transatlantic cables are the foundation of facilitating global trade and communication, providing a successful highway of information for people across the globe.

Outlines

00:00

🌍 Transatlantic Telegraph Cable: From Dream to Reality

This paragraph outlines the historical development of the transatlantic telegraph cable, which revolutionized global communication in the 19th century. It begins with the early ideas of linking Europe and the Americas through a cable, spurred by the invention of the telegraph by William Cooke and Charles Wheatstone, and the subsequent belief in its feasibility by Samuel Morse. The narrative then details the first attempts to lay a cable across the Atlantic, led by Frederick Newton Gisborne and Cyrus Westfield, who overcame initial failures and financial setbacks. The paragraph describes the construction and materials of the first transatlantic cable, the challenges faced during its deployment, and the eventual success in sending the first message across the ocean in 1858. However, the triumph was short-lived as technical issues led to the cable's failure shortly after. The paragraph concludes with a brief mention of the transition from copper to fiber-optic cables in modern times.

05:00

🚀 Evolution of Submarine Cables: From Copper to Fiber-Optics

The second paragraph delves into the evolution of submarine cables, focusing on the shift from copper to fiber-optic technology. It explains the structure of a standard fiber-optic cable, which consists of optical fibers coated with flexible plastic layers and protected by multiple layers of material, including petroleum jelly, metal tubing, polycarbonate, aluminum water barriers, steel wires, mylar tape, and a polyethylene jacket for marine cables. The paragraph highlights how fiber-optic cables work, using light signals to transmit data at the speed of light, with repeaters placed at intervals to amplify the signal. The summary emphasizes the importance of transatlantic cables in facilitating global trade and communication, showcasing how a technology that started with many setbacks has become a critical component of the modern information superhighway, capable of transmitting vast amounts of data at unprecedented speeds.

Keywords

💡Transatlantic Cable

The term 'Transatlantic Cable' refers to a telecommunication cable that spans across the Atlantic Ocean, connecting Europe and the Americas. This was a revolutionary concept in the 19th century, symbolizing the first major attempt at establishing long-distance communication between continents. In the video, the development of the transatlantic cable is central to the narrative, illustrating the transition from a dream to a reality that transformed global communication.

💡Telegraph

The 'Telegraph' is an early form of long-distance communication that uses electrical signals to transmit messages. It was invented by William Cooke and Charles Wheatstone and later improved by Samuel Morse. The script mentions the birth of the Telegraph in 1858, which was a precursor to the idea of a transatlantic communications network, setting the stage for the development of the transatlantic cable.

💡Cyrus Westfield

Cyrus Westfield is mentioned in the script as a businessman who believed in the potential of the transatlantic cable and provided the necessary funding to make the project happen. His support was crucial for the realization of the cable project, demonstrating the importance of financial backing in the development of such ambitious technological endeavors.

💡New York Newfoundland London Telegraph Company

This company was founded by Gisborne and Field, as mentioned in the script, to facilitate the laying of the transatlantic cable. It represents the collaborative efforts between the US and UK governments, as well as private investors, to fund and support the ambitious project of connecting the continents via an undersea cable.

💡HMS Agamemnon and USS Niagara

The 'HMS Agamemnon' and 'USS Niagara' were the ships used in the cable-laying operations for the transatlantic cable. The script describes how these ships set off from different continents to meet in the middle of the Atlantic to connect the cables, highlighting the logistical challenges and the international cooperation involved in this historic endeavor.

💡Cable Laying

The process of 'Cable Laying' involves the installation of undersea cables. In the context of the video, it refers to the complex and challenging task of laying the first transatlantic cable. The script details the various attempts and failures, emphasizing the technical difficulties and perseverance required to achieve this engineering feat.

💡Fiber-Optic Cable

A 'Fiber-Optic Cable' is a modern type of cable that uses light to transmit data at very high speeds. The script contrasts the early copper cables with the current fiber-optic technology, which can transmit an immense amount of information quickly. The evolution from copper to fiber-optic cables represents a significant advancement in communication technology.

💡Optical Amplifiers

Optical amplifiers are devices used in fiber-optic communication to boost the signal strength. As mentioned in the script, these amplifiers are placed at regular intervals along the cable to ensure the signal remains strong over long distances. They are a critical component in maintaining the efficiency of modern undersea communication cables.

💡Global Trade and Communication

The script highlights the role of transatlantic cables in facilitating 'Global Trade and Communication'. These cables are the backbone of international data transfer, enabling instant communication and commerce across the world. The development of the transatlantic cable marked the beginning of a new era in global connectivity.

💡Cable Failures

The 'Cable Failures' mentioned in the script refer to the numerous challenges and setbacks encountered during the initial attempts to lay the transatlantic cable. These failures underscore the technical complexities and the trial-and-error nature of early cable-laying efforts, ultimately leading to the refinement of methods and materials used in cable construction.

💡Marine Life Protection

The script describes the protective measures taken to shield the cable from marine life, such as covering it in latex and tarred hemp. This highlights the need for the cable to be durable and resistant to the harsh undersea environment, ensuring its longevity and reliability for communication purposes.

Highlights

In 1839, the idea of a transatlantic telegraph cable was conceived by a few engineers.

After the Telegraph's invention in 1858, the first message was sent across the Atlantic in less than two decades.

The first message sent across the Atlantic by telegraph cable in 1858 read 'Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace and goodwill towards men'.

Samuel Morse believed in the possibility of a transatlantic communications network.

In 1850, a telegraph line was laid between Great Britain and France, the longest at the time.

Construction of a cable from the US northeast coast to Nova Scotia began in 1850, led by Frederick Newton Gisborne.

Gisborne's company collapsed in 1853 as the cable line did not prove profitable.

Gisborne met businessman Cyrus Westfield who believed in extending the cable network across the Atlantic and had the funds to do so.

Samuel Morse served as the technical liaison for the transatlantic cable project.

The New York Newfoundland in London Telegraph Company was founded by Gisborne and Field in 1857 to lay the transatlantic cable.

The first attempt to lay the transatlantic cable in 1857 faced multiple cable breaks and failures.

The cable used in 1857 was made by glass Elliott & Co and RS Newall in Co, with a copper inner cable covered in latex and tarred hemp.

The HMS Agamemnon and USS Niagara were used to tow the cable for the 1858 attempt.

The first successful message was sent across the Atlantic on August 16, 1858, followed by messages from Queen Victoria and US President James Buchanan.

The first transatlantic cable failed on September 3, 1858, due to engineers boosting the voltage too high.

Modern transatlantic cables are fiber-optic, with the first laid in 1988, capable of transmitting 84 billion words per minute.

Fiber-optic cables have multiple layers of protection and use light to transmit data at the speed of light.

Transatlantic cables are the foundation of global trade and communication, evolving from early failures to a successful information highway.

Transcripts

in 1839 the dream of having a cable that

stretched across the Atlantic Ocean was

just one of a few engineers after the

birth of the Telegraph in 1858 less than

two decades later the first message was

sent across the Atlantic by telegraph

cable reading glory to God in the

highest on earth peace and goodwill

towards men so how did an idea as

world-changing as linking Europe to the

Americas go from dream to reality in

under two decades

let's take a look after the invention of

the Telegraph by William cook in Charles

Wheatstone Samuel Morse believed that

the concept of a transatlantic

communications network was one of

possibility experts continue to debate

the idea until in 1850 a line was laid

between Great Britain and France the

longest of the time later on in 1850

construction began on a line heading

from the northeast coast of America to

Nova Scotia to Newfoundland this

northeastern cable was set to be the

largest communication cable yet in its

construction was led by a man named

Frederick Newton Gisborne this cable was

eventually completed though Gisborne's

company collapsed in 1853 as the line

didn't prove profitable however after

that quick failure Gisborne met a

businessman named Cyrus Westfield

he believed in Gisborne's idea of

extending the existing cable network

across the Atlantic and he had the funds

to make it happen Samuel Morse served as

the technical liaison and an

oceanographer was consulted as well

after initial planning Gisborne and

field founded the New York Newfoundland

in London Telegraph Company field funded

this venture with help from the US and

UK government's as well as selling stock

and funding a large portion with his own

funds it finally took shape in 1857 when

the first attempt was made to lay the

transatlantic cable manufactured by

glass Elliott & Co and RS Newall in Co

the copper inner cable was covered in

latex which engineers believed to be

enough to protect it from marine life it

was

then covered in wound tarred hemp

supported further by a sheath of iron

wiring this made the cable relatively

flexible while also being incredibly

strong

the HMS Agamemnon in the USS Niagara

were used to tow the cable setting off

on their cable laying journey from

Southern Ireland on August 5th one of

the operations started off with a bang

or rather a snap as the cable broke and

it had to be retrieved off the bottom of

the sea floor after that the cable broke

again but this time it was too deep so

the operation was shuddered until the

next year following the two cable snaps

plans were rearranged and the two ships

were set to ship off from one continent

each meeting in the middle to connect

the cables and then head back to their

respective ports pulling their portion

of the cables back the cable

unfortunately broke again after just six

kilometers and then again after 100

kilometers and then again after 370

kilometers things weren't looking good

crews were up for a third try and they

set out on July 29th 1858

despite navigational errors thanks to

the electrical charge of the cable the

ship's successfully navigated to their

respective ports on the 4th and 5th of

August the USS Niagara docking in

Trinity Bay in Newfoundland and the

Agamemnon docking in Valencia island on

the western coast of Ireland utilising

horses crews then positioned the shore

sides of the cable to the correct places

and they were connected together on

August 16th the first message was sent

followed by a message from Queen

Victoria to the US President James

Buchanan at the time the Queen and the

president sent two rather wordy messages

which weren't exactly designed for this

transatlantic communication technique

reception over the cable was terrible

and each character took two minutes to

transmit the first message took just shy

of 18 hours far from modern day instant

messaging the cables initial success

didn't last long though

on the 3rd of September the cable failed

this was due to engineers boosting the

voltage on the line from

six hundred to two thousand volts in

hopes of speeding up transmission and it

fried

somewhere along the great distance it

was a short life for the first cable it

wasn't until 1854 that the next cable

was laid these first cables were cord

with copper but now our modern

transatlantic cables are all fiber-optic

the first having been laid in 1988 in

contrast the first cables could transmit

words every few minutes on a good day

modern cables can transmit the

equivalent of 84 billion words per

minute

digging into fiber-optic cable

engineering further we can see why these

speeds are so much greater than metal

cables your standard fiber-optic cable

has one or many optical fibers that are

coated by flexible plastic layers all

encapsulated in a protective jacket when

these cables need to be laid on the

seafloor they'll be functionally the

same with much more outer protection in

essence you're left with this layout the

fiber optic cable on the inside

surrounded by petroleum jelly surrounded

by a copper or aluminum tubing than by

polycarbonate than by aluminum water

barriers than by steel wires than by

mylar tape and finally your outer layer

for marine cables is usually a

polyethylene protective jacket this

layout provides for optimum protection

for fiber-optic cables but how do they

work

submarine cables or underwater cables

transmit data through flashes of light

through the fiber-optic cable the speed

limiter for data transfer then being the

speed of light at regular intervals

there will be optically amplified

repeaters to boost the signal

transatlantic cables continue to be the

foundation of facilitating global trade

in communication this core technology

that started off on a rocky road of

failures is now a successful highway of

information for people across the globe

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