Have you ever wondered how messages were sent hundreds of years ago? Yes, there was mail sent by the pony express and trains, which were much slower than other technology, but there was more than just that. In the late 1700s, the telegraph was invented.
The telegraph was developed from a foundation of codes, and codes originated long before the telegraph. Some think that Morse Code was the first invented code, but one of the first recorded codes is Bacon’s Cipher, made in the early 1600s. It consists of patterns of “As” and “Bs.” The cipher was never officially discontinued like other codes, its usage percentages dropped because of more modern ways to send messages. Later developed codes, such as Meyer Code, were proven more efficient because of their speed and improved communication. Meyer Code could be formed with almost any two objects, including your hands, but it was normally formed with flags so it would be easier to read. The military commonly used it, so it didn’t become extremely public because many words had to remain confidential. Unfortunately, Meyer Code was discontinued in 1912 for the same reason every other code was discontinued, faster and more efficient communication.
Many may wonder who truly invented the telegraph. There have been many fraud claims. The first true and successful claim of the telegraph was made by a Frenchman, Claude Chappe (Klod Shap) in 1794. This telegraph is known as the Chappe Telegraph. It required semaphores, or signaling devices, and telegraph operators. A semaphore looks like a giant “Y” made out of wooden planks and bolts. Each semaphore is connected to a telegraph station and each station is normally approximately six miles apart. The job of a telegraph operator was to man a semaphore in a telegraph station. They’d change the position of a semaphore to send a message in Chappe Code from one semaphore to the next. As it grew in popularity, more stations were built. Eventually, there were over 530 stations in France. The Chappe Telegraph may be the first telegraph, but it isn’t the first electric telegraph. Ever since electromagnetism was discovered in 1820 by Danish H. C. Orsted, inventors and even everyday people from all around the world, were constantly rushing to invent the first electric telegraph. Patenting the telegraph meant money and fame. Finally, all the rush was finally settled by Samuel Morse, the man who also gained the title of “ The Inventor of Morse Code.” Sources say that Morse had assistance from a man named Alfred Vail, but it’s truly a mystery because he never gave credit to anyone else, but himself. He, and supposedly Vail, started with sketches of dots and dashes that meant letters and numbers, their own code. Eventually, they figured out how to transmit their code on wires by using an electric current. They turned the current on and off using something called a telegraph key. If the electricity was on, it would print a dot or dash on the other side, if it was turned off, it would stop printing. By 1856, Morse founded a telegraph company, the New York and Mississippi Valley Telegraphy. Five years later, it was renamed the Western Union to represent the Westward Expansion.
Overall, many telegraph companies continued their business for over a hundred years. In that time, many of them created new uses and inventions for the telegraph, like time tracking and stock tickers. Inventors quickly saw that telegraphy could be used for more than just everyday messages. After this realization, telegraphy companies started to keep track of time. Some companies kept track of time by the hour, some by the minute, and very few tracked every ten seconds. Other businesses that required master clocks were always able to set the right time. Though it was used for a vast amount of things, time tracking mainly served in train schedules. It evolved train communication and safety because of its efficiency and speed. Another invention, stock tickers, were invented by the Western Union. They printed the price of the transportation of someone’s telegraph. Telegraphy kept improving, and so did its inventions and uses. The peak of the telegraph’s improvements were in the mid to late 1800s. At some point in time, it was the most used machine.
In the end, the telegraph improved everything and was more preferred than other communication services. It was faster, safer, and it impacted the world. The Western Union may not be the first to invent the telegraph, but it is the most famous for it. That “Most Famous Telegraph Company,” was officially discontinued in 2006.
Written by a 6th Grader
References
Coe Lewis. “The Telegraph: A History of Morse’s Invention and Its Predecessors in the United States.” Jefferson, NC: Mcfarland & Company, Inc., 10/5/26
Encyclopedia, Knowledge. “Scientific & Industrial Revolution World History. Wonder House Books, 2025
“Goverment Support for the Telegraph and Westward Expansion.” HistoricalRose, 1/10/25, Quizlet, 9/29/26, <quizlet.com/study-guides/goverment-support-for-the-telegraph-and-westward-expansion-d824d853-e474-4249-bae3-17092859e89e>
“Telegraph Cowboy: Dot, Dashes and the Western Expansion.” Kallie Zieman, Pavek Museum Of Electric Communication, 10/15/26, <pavekmuseum.org/telegraphy-cowboys-dots-dashes-and-the-western-expansion/>
“The triumph of the telegraph.” K.V. Tahvanainen, Mat Wickman, 1994-2026, Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson, 9/28/26, <ericsson.com/en/about-us/history/communication/early-developments/the-triumph-of-the-telegraph>
“Websters New Explorer Desk Encyclopedia.” Springfield, MA 01102: Merriam-Webster Incorporated 2003.