Samuel Morse

Samuel Morse (1791-1872) was the Ameri¬can who invented the most widely used telegraph. He also developed the Morse code, an alphabet consisting of dots and dashes to be used in sending messages.
In addition to his inventive genius, Morse was one of the finest American artists of his day, being especially gifted in portrait painting. He was the founder of the National Academy of Design in New York City and served for nineteen years as its first president.
The son of a well-known and highly respected clergyman and geographer, Morse was born at Charlestown, Massachusetts. He received his education at Yale College, but he was not a serious student. He developed a fervent interest in painting miniature portraits and wanted to study art in London.
In 1832 Samuel Morse returned to Europe, intending to study art, but on his trip across he became engaged in a dinner conversation that changed his entire life.
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