A Late Night for Henry du Pont
It is late at night on November 6th, 1860. The du Pont house and powder yards, so busy and industrious during the day, have quieted. The home itself is largely dark, save for the light that flickers in the First Office. There, Henry du Pont is sitting awake, hunched over the telegraph key that sits on his desk. He's waiting for news that will change his life—and that of everyone else in the country—forever.
The History of the Telegraph
The first telegraph key was installed at Hagley in the 1850s. At the time, the telegraph was still a relatively recent invention. Samuel Morse (the eponymous creator of Morse Code) had presented his idea to Congress in 1838, and six years later, in 1844, the first telegraphic message would be sent from Washington, D.C. to Baltimore. Although Morse is often credited with the invention of the telegraph, he was not the first one to come up with the idea—merely the first one to turn that idea into a reality.
It's hard to understate the importance and impact of the telegraph. Until the telegraph was introduced, messages were still delivered the old-fashioned way: via mail service or messenger. And if the message was being sent, say, across a country or an ocean, that could take weeks, if not longer.
With the telegraph, communication was no longer dependent on physical transportation. The device was able to transmit information almost instantly, and as a result, it transformed journalism, industry, and politics in the United States.
Although use of the telegraph would fade and the device would eventually become obsolete after the invention of the telephone later that century, its still-present impact on our lives and technology today have made it an important object in America's historic preservation record. Some modern historians even referred to it as the "Victorian Internet"—both as a nod to its role as the ancestor of electronic communication and an acknowledgement of how it revolutionized communication technologies.
The Telegraph at Hagley
As a relatively wealthy landowner, Henry du Pont would have been among a small minority of people who owned a telegraph in his private home. Nevertheless, after its installation, it became a mainstay of daily business and activity at the du Pont estate. Henry used it regularly, both to receive news from the outside world and to send his own communications and instructions to other people.
And the much-anticipated message that Henry was waiting for in the wee morning hours of that night in 1860? He was listening for the results of the election that had been held that day, an election between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas, among other candidates. The outcome of that election would mark a pivotal point in the country's path toward Civil War. Henry du Pont, sitting at his telegraph that night, would be among the first to know.
For more on the telegraph at Hagley and other incredible historic objects, check out our Hagley Up Close video series. The mission of Hagley Museum and Library is to foster innovation and inspiration through our historical collections. Located on the site of E.I. du Pont's gunpowder works, Hagley's offerings include a library dedicated to the study of American business and technology, a unique patent model collection, and the restored historical mill and workers' community, as well as the home and gardens of the du Pont family. Hagley also hosts a variety of events intended to educate and engage the wider community. Plan your visit today, or consider donating to support our work!