Background
Brett was the son of a cabinetmaker, William Brett of Bristol, and was born in that city in 1805.
Brett was the son of a cabinetmaker, William Brett of Bristol, and was born in that city in 1805.
After some years spent in perfecting his plans he sought and obtained permission from Louis-Philippe in 1847 to establish telegraphic communication between France and England, but the project was deemed too hazardous for general support. However, he was successful in connecting the two nations by undersea cable in 1850, and the construction of numerous other submarine lines followed. Brett died on 3 December 1863 at the age of 58, and was buried in the family vault in the churchyard of Westbury-on-Trym, near Bristol.
