Background
Vail, Alfred Lewis was born on September 25, 1807 in Morristown, New Jersey, United States. Son of Stephen and Bethiah (Young) Vail.
Vail, Alfred Lewis was born on September 25, 1807 in Morristown, New Jersey, United States. Son of Stephen and Bethiah (Young) Vail.
Graduated from the University City New York, 1836.
Bought an interest in Samuel F. B. Morse’s telegraph, 1837, agreed to manufacture complete set of telegraphic instruments and to finance United States and foreign patents. Made 1st public exhibition of telegraph, New York City, 1838. Demonstrated telegraph before Franklin Institute, Philadelphia, also United States Congress, 1838.
Philadelphia representative Speedwell Iron Works of Morristown, 1839-1843. Became Morse’s chief assistant after Congress provided funds for experimental telegraph line between Washington, District of Columbia and Baltimore, 1843. Received test message “What hath God wrought!” at Baltimore, 1844.
Superintendent telegraph lines at Philadelphia, 1844-1848. Author: The American Electro Magnetic Telegraph, 1845.
(Title: The American electro-magnetic telegraph : with the...)
(This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of th...)
(This historic book may have numerous typos and missing te...)
(This is a reproduction of a book published before 1923. T...)
(This is a reproduction of a book published before 1923. T...)
Married Jane Elizabeth Cummings, July 23, 1839.