In what year did the first successful transatlantic telegraph cable become operational?
1858
The answer was 1858. Here's the why, the decoys, and the source trail.
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The first successful transatlantic telegraph cable was completed in 1858, connecting Ireland and Newfoundland. This achievement revolutionized global communication by enabling messages to cross the Atlantic in minutes instead of weeks by ship. Though the cable eventually failed after just a few weeks of use, it demonstrated the feasibility of underwater telegraphy.
A good trivia question makes the wrong answers feel close. Here is the clean read on the set.
- 1858 - correct answer.
- 1865 - a decoy; it may live near the same topic, but it does not answer this exact clue.
- 1876 - a decoy; it may live near the same topic, but it does not answer this exact clue.
- 1901 - a decoy; it may live near the same topic, but it does not answer this exact clue.
1858 is the one to remember. The first successful transatlantic telegraph cable was completed in 1858, connecting Ireland and Newfoundland. The first message sent across the transatlantic cable in 1858 was from Ireland to the U.S., taking 16 hours to transmit—still remarkably fast for the era.
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Sources: Library of Congress