Morse Code

   The Morse code is named for its inventor, Samuel Finley Breese Morse (1791-1872), who was born in Charlestown, Massachusetts, the son of a Calvinist minister. He graduated from Yale and then went to England to study painting and design under Washington Allston and Benjamin West. While still a young man, Morse showed considerable talent and exhibited his artwork at the Royal Academy. After his return to America, he gained a reputation as a portrait painter and won recognition as a sculptor. He founded, in 1826, the National Academy of Design and was its first president. In 1832 he received a professorship at: the University of New York. But Morse was more than a painter. He had an inventive mind and developed an intense interest in electricity. Although he taught art, he spent much time studying electricity with professors in other departments of the university.

   The idea of the telegraph occurred to Morse during a dinner discussion at sea in 1832. It soon became his main interest. By 1835, he had set up a successful telegraph line in his room. With a grant from Congress of $30,000 Morse built an experimental line from Baltimore to Washington. It was over that line that Morse sent his historic message, "What hath God wrought." The honor of choosing the words was given to Annie Ellsworth, daughter of the co missioner of patents. Morse was subjected to a great deal of litigation, but he succe ed in patenting his famous code in 1854. First called the Morse alphabet, the name was changed to Morse code. The demand for the code was international, and Morse became a wealthy man.