| (1819
- 1892) |
| Inducted: |
1986 |
| Region: |
MidAtlantic |
| Industry: |
Communications
|
|
Cyrus West Field arranged the financing for and directed the construction of the first transatlantic cable. The project suffered many snags. The cable broke four times before a hookup was completed in 1858, and then the cable stopped working after three weeks. Field tried again using a heavier, better-insulated cable, but it broke after more than half the distance had been covered. In 1866, Field laid the transatlantic cable successfully. A jubilant public hailed Field, and the stock of his Anglo-American Telegraph Co. soared. |
