Chapter XX
Reading edition
CHAPTER XX.
SAMUEL F.B. MORSE.
Birth—Parentage—Early education—Graduates at Yale College—Becomes an artist—His masters—Visits England—His first attempt—"The Dying Hercules"—Opinion of Benjamin West—Wins the medal of the Adelphi Society of Arts—Ambition as an artist—His cold reception by the Americans—Mr. Tuckerman's comments—Organizes the National Academy of Design—Visits Europe the second time—The homeward voyage in the "Sully"—News of the experiments at Paris with the electro-magnet—How the electric telegraph was invented—Morse is made a professor in the University of New York—Completion of his model—An imperfect telegraph—His first experiments—The duplicate finished—First exhibition of the telegraph—Morse applies for a patent—Visits Europe to introduce his invention—His failure—Seeks aid from Congress—A disheartening effort—A long struggle—Independence of Morse—Despondent at last—A sudden lifting of the cloud—The experimental line—The trial—A curious Cabinet Minister—Success of the telegraph—Establishment of companies in the United States—Professor Morse wins fame and fortune—The telegraph in Europe—Honors at home and abroad—A list of his rewards—Morse originates submarine telegraphy, and predicts the laying of an Atlantic telegraph—Personal characteristics.