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Morse (SAMUEL FINLEY BREESE)

SAMUEL FINLEY BREESE, an American inventor; born in Charlestown, Mass., April 27, 1791. He was educated at Yale College, where he devoted special attention to chemistry and MORTAR natural philosophy; but in 1811 went to England to study painting under West.

In 1813 he was awarded the gold medal of the Royal Academy. Returning to the United States in 1826 he established the National Academy of Design, of which he was first president. About 1832 he A SAMUEL F. B. MORSE worked on a plan to use electro-magnetism in telegraphy, and in 1835 exhibited a workable instrument. By July, 1837, this instrument was perfected, and ultimately in 1843 Congress granted him means to construct an experimental line between Washington and Baltimore.

From that time Morse's instrument came into general use in the United States and Europe. In 1857 the representatives of 10 countries met at Paris, and voted him $80,000. He died in New York City, April 2, 1872.