You might call it the cable that changed history.
In the mid-19th century there were various attempts to lay cables across the Atlantic Ocean between Britain (Ireland) and the US.
It took several failures, numerous bankruptcies and over ten years before they got it right.
But eventually they did and on July 27 1866 Queen Victoria broadcast a message to US President Johnson…
Money is a form of communication technology
Here’s what the first transatlantic cable said:
Osborne, July 27, 1866
To the President of the United States, Washington
The Queen congratulates the President on the successful completion of an undertaking which she hopes may serve as an additional bond of Union between the United States and England.
Johnson replied:
Executive Mansion Washington, July 30, 1866
To Her Majesty the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
The President of the United States acknowledges with profound gratification the receipt of Her Majesty’s despatch and cordially reciprocates the hope that the cable which now unites the Eastern and Western hemispheres may serve to strengthen and perpetuate peace and amity between the governments of England and the Republic of the United States.
