James Buchanan Makes First Contact
On August 16, 1858, 153 years ago today, the first trans-Atlantic telegraph message was sent across the ocean by cable. The message read "Glory to God in the highest; on earth, peace and good will toward men." Then messages were exchanged between Queen Victoria of England and President James Buchanan.
The Queen sent a telegram of congratulations to Buchanan, and expressed the hope that the trans-Atlantic cable would prove "an additional link between the nations whose friendship is founded on their common interest and reciprocal esteem." President Buchanan responded:
"It is a triumph more glorious, because far more useful to mankind, than was ever won by conqueror on the field of battle. May the Atlantic telegraph, under the blessing of heaven, prove to be a bond of perpetual peace and friendship between the kindred nations, and an instrument destined by Divine Providence to diffuse religion, civilization, liberty, and law throughout the world."
These messages led to an outburst of enthusiasm. The next morning a grand salute of 100 guns resounded in New York City, the streets were decorated with flags and the bells of the churches rang. Unfortunately, cable companies being what they are, in September, after several days of progressive deterioration of the insulation, the cable failed. The reaction at this news was one of tremendous disappointment. Some writers even hinted that the line was a mere hoax, and others pronounced it a stock exchange speculation.
Last summer I was in St. John's, Newfoundland for a conference. A friend and I set off in a rental car for the town of Dildo, in order to take some gag photos. On the way we passed through the village of Heart's Content, where I happened upon this monument:
The Queen sent a telegram of congratulations to Buchanan, and expressed the hope that the trans-Atlantic cable would prove "an additional link between the nations whose friendship is founded on their common interest and reciprocal esteem." President Buchanan responded:
"It is a triumph more glorious, because far more useful to mankind, than was ever won by conqueror on the field of battle. May the Atlantic telegraph, under the blessing of heaven, prove to be a bond of perpetual peace and friendship between the kindred nations, and an instrument destined by Divine Providence to diffuse religion, civilization, liberty, and law throughout the world."
These messages led to an outburst of enthusiasm. The next morning a grand salute of 100 guns resounded in New York City, the streets were decorated with flags and the bells of the churches rang. Unfortunately, cable companies being what they are, in September, after several days of progressive deterioration of the insulation, the cable failed. The reaction at this news was one of tremendous disappointment. Some writers even hinted that the line was a mere hoax, and others pronounced it a stock exchange speculation.
Last summer I was in St. John's, Newfoundland for a conference. A friend and I set off in a rental car for the town of Dildo, in order to take some gag photos. On the way we passed through the village of Heart's Content, where I happened upon this monument: