1903, The Story of the Atlantic Cable by Charles Bright, F. R. S. E.

1903, The Story of the Atlantic Cable by Charles Bright, F. R. S. E.

"The Story of the Atlantic Cable" (1903) is a historical account written by Charles Bright, F.R.S.E. (Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh), detailing the development, laying, and operation of the transatlantic telegraph cable—one of the most important engineering achievements of the 19th century.

Here’s a concise overview:

📘 Bibliographic Information

• Full Title: The Story of the Atlantic Cable

• Author: Charles Bright, F.R.S.E., F.Inst.C.E., M.I.E.E.

• Publication Date: 1903

• Publisher: Archibald Constable & Co., Westminster

• Length: ~240 pages (varies by edition)

🧑‍🔬 About the Author

Charles Bright (1863–1937) was the son of Sir Charles Tilston Bright (1832–1888), the engineer who supervised the laying of the first successful transatlantic cable in 1858.
The younger Bright was himself an electrical engineer and historian of telegraphy, and his book serves both as a technical chronicle and a tribute to his father’s and colleagues’ pioneering work.

🌊 Content Overview

Bright’s narrative covers:

1. Early Telegraphy and the Idea of a Submarine Cable

   • The development of land telegraphs and early undersea cables.

2. The First Transatlantic Attempt (1857–1858)

   • Collaboration between American and British engineers.

   • Technical challenges and the brief success of the 1858 cable.

3. Failures and Lessons Learned (1859–1865)

   • Causes of early breakdowns—insulation, cable strength, and ocean conditions.

4. The Great Eastern and the 1866 Success

   • Use of Brunel’s massive ship Great Eastern for cable laying.

   • Final successful connection between Valentia (Ireland) and Heart’s Content (Newfoundland).

5. Later Cables and Improvements

   • Multiple redundant cables laid over subsequent decades.

   • Advancements in insulation, signaling speed, and reliability.

6. The Broader Impact

   • How the cable revolutionized communication, politics, and global business.

⚙️ Historical Significance

The transatlantic cable marked the first time instant communication between continents was possible—shrinking response times for diplomacy, journalism, and trade from weeks to minutes.
Bright’s 1903 book is one of the most comprehensive firsthand historical accounts of these early efforts, blending technical detail, personal insight, and illustrations (often including diagrams and photographs of the cable ships and machinery).