Telegraph cable designed by Lord Kelvin (Sir William Thomson)

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This is a specimen of the telegraph cable laid on the Atlantic seabed by the 'Great Eastern' in 1866. William Thomson, contributed to its design and for this work was knighted in 1866.

The cable was made of copper surrounded by manila covered wire, coated with gutta-percha.

As chief consultant of the Atlantic Telegraph Company, the physicist Sir William Thomson was involved in the design and construction of the first successful underwater Atlantic cable. In 1866 he was knighted for his work in physics and engineering. Later, in 1892, Lord Kelvin was made 1st Baron Kelvin of Largs.

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• Online ID: 000-000-099-950-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: Innovators and Innovations (multimedia essay)
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  T.1928.4
• Date: 1866
  c. 1860
  
• Material: Specimen / cable, telegraph
  
• Dimensions:
• What: Specimen / cable, telegraph
  
• Subject: 7. TELECOMMUNICATIONS, Communication (Departmental Classification)
  
• Who: Lord Kelvin (Sir William Thomson) (scientist and inventor)
  
• Where:
• Event: Laying of the Transatlantic telegraph cable
  
• Description: Specimen of telegraph cable laid across the Atlantic Ocean by the Great Eastern in 1866
  
• References:
  • Thompson, Silvanus P. The life of William Thomson, Baron Kelvin of Largs. London: Macmillan, 1910
  • Tunbridge, Paul. Lord Kelvin: his influence on electrical measurements and units. London: Peregrinus, 1992
• Translations:
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