Historedia
Person

Cyrus West Field

Events
3
Episodes
8
Years
1858–1866

Every event in Historedia whose sources name Cyrus West Field, with the role they cite and all of that event’s episodes. This is not a biography, and mentions are grouped by name, so two people with the same name can share this page.

Events and episodes

  1. The first transatlantic telegraph cable is completed and fails

    1858

    Role: Vice President of Atlantic Telegraph Company

    1. 5 August 1858 · Heart's ContentCable Landing at Heart's Content

      The first transatlantic cable was landed at Heart's Content, connecting to Valentia Island.

    2. 16 August 1858 · Valentia IslandFirst Official Transcontinental Telegram

      Queen Victoria sent a Morse code message to President James Buchanan, marking the first official telegram between continents.

    3. 26 August 1858 · Great Barrington, MassachusettsCyrus Field's Homecoming

      Field returned to Great Barrington, Massachusetts, celebrated as the parent of the Atlantic Telegraph Cable scheme.

    4. September–October 1858 · Valentia IslandCable Failure in September 1858

      The cable failed due to insulation deterioration, ending its short-lived operation.

  2. SS Great Eastern departs to lay the transatlantic cable

    1865

    Role: Vice President of the Atlantic Telegraph Company

    1. 1865 · Mid-AtlanticLoss of Cable End

      The cable end was lost mid-Atlantic during the 1865 voyage, forcing a return in 1866.

    2. 15 July 1865 · The NoreDeparture from the Nore

      At noon on 15 July 1865, the Great Eastern left the Nore for Foilhommerum Bay, Valentia Island, to lay the transatlantic cable.

  3. SS Great Eastern completes the transatlantic telegraph cable, July 1866

    1866

    Role: Vice president of the Atlantic Telegraph Company at its 1856 formation; in 1866 he laid a new, more durable transatlantic cable using the SS Great Eastern

    1. 27 July 1866 · Heart's ContentCompletion of 1866 Cable

      The unbroken cable made it to shore in Heart's Content, Newfoundland, on 27 July 1866, completing the permanent connection.

    2. August–September 1866 · Mid-AtlanticRecovery of Lost 1865 Cable

      In August 1866, ships grappled the lost 1865 cable, retrieving it in early September to splice into service.

Sources

  1. Cyrus W. Field Wikipedia, revision of 2026-03-24
  2. Transatlantic telegraph cable Wikipedia, revision of 2026-07-15