---
title: The First Telegraph Machine
author: Science Museum, London
source: https://www.worldhistory.org/image/17209/the-first-telegraph-machine/
format: machine-readable-alternate
license: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/)
updated: 2023-04-20
---

# The First Telegraph Machine

_Authored by Science Museum, London_

## Image File

[![The First Telegraph Machine](https://www.worldhistory.org/uploads/images/17209.png)](https://www.worldhistory.org/uploads/images/17209.png)

## Image Caption

The first telegraph machine, invented in 1837 by William Fothergill Cook (1806-79) and Charles Wheatstone (1802-1875). The machine had only 20 letters, indicated in the message sent by the slight movement of two needles (from the machine’s set of five) towards a particular letter. The needles were moved by electrical impulses sent down the telegraph line connecting two machines. The telegraph was first used for messages for workers on railway lines but the idea soon caught on and people could eventually send private telegrams across continents.

[Science](https://www.worldhistory.org/science/) Museum, London.

## Cite This Work

### APA
London, S. M. (2023, March 20). The First Telegraph Machine. *World History Encyclopedia*. <https://www.worldhistory.org/image/17209/the-first-telegraph-machine/>
### Chicago
London, Science Museum,. "The First Telegraph Machine." *World History Encyclopedia*, March 20, 2023. <https://www.worldhistory.org/image/17209/the-first-telegraph-machine/>.
### MLA
London, Science Museum,. "The First Telegraph Machine." *World History Encyclopedia*, 20 Mar 2023, <https://www.worldhistory.org/image/17209/the-first-telegraph-machine/>.

## License & Copyright

[Original image](https://collection.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk/objects/co32899/cooke-and-wheatstone-five-needle-telegraph-telegraphs-five-needle-telegraphs) by **Science Museum, London**. Submitted by [Mark Cartwright](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/markzcartwright/ "User Page: Mark Cartwright"), published on 20 March 2023. The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/deed.en). This license lets others remix, tweak, and build upon this content non-commercially, as long as they credit the author and license their new creations under the identical terms. When republishing on the web a hyperlink back to the original content source URL must be included. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms.