On This Day

January 1838 in History

Events in History


Historic InventionMorse Telegraph First Demonstrated

Jan 6 Samuel Morse and Alfred Vail demonstrate their telegraph machine in New Jersey

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The original Morse telegraph machine, as developed by Samuel Morse
The original Morse telegraph machine, as developed by Samuel Morse
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  • Jan 8 Rebellion at Amherstburg, Ontario breaks out

CommunicationHistoric Communication

Jan 11 First public demonstration of telegraph messages sent using dots and dashes at Speedwell Ironworks in Morristown, New Jersey by Samuel Morse and Alfred Vail

Inventor Samuel Morse
Inventor
Samuel Morse
  • Jan 26 Tennessee enacts the first prohibition law in the United States

Birthdays in History

  • Jan 1 William Hugh Young, Brigadier General (Confederate Army), (d. 1901)
  • Jan 4 Charles Stratton [General Tom Thumb], famous short person
  • Jan 5 Camille Jordan, French mathematician, born in Lyon, France (d. 1922)
  • Jan 16 Franz Brentano, German philosopher & psychologist, born in Rhine Province, Germany (d. 1917)

Deaths in History

  • Jan 23 Arnold A Buyskes, Dutch vice-admiral/colonial director, dies at 67
  • Jan 28 Aleksandr Polezhayev, Russian poet (Sasjka), dies at 33 [OS 16 Jan]
  • Jan 30 Osceola, chief of Seminole indians, dies in jail