Cyrus W. Field
Telegraph Engineer of New York.
Cyrus Field was born on 30 November, 1819, in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, U.S.
He was an American financier noted for the success of the first transatlantic cable.
Following his first career in the paper business, Field's interests became aroused by a proposal to lay a telegraph cable on the Atlantic sea bed.
1854 He co-founded the New York, Newfoundland and London Telegraph Company, formed to carry out the project.
1856 He helped with the organisation of the Atlantic Telegraph Co.
1857 In August, the first attempts to lay a cable were made. Several of these were unsuccessful.
1866 Success came in July, and Field became famous on both sides of the Atlantic.
1877 He bought a controlling share in the New York Elevated Railroad Co and was its president for the next three years. Field also worked with Jay Gould in developing the Wabash Railroad and became the owner of a New York newspaper, the Mail and Express.
Years later, Field suffered heavy financial losses.
1892 Cyrus Field died on 12 July, 1892, in New York City.
- Read his obituary in The Engineer 1892/07/15.
See Also
Sources of Information
- [1] Encyclopaedia Britannica Online