The Scientific Papers of Sir Charles Wheatstone

Sir Charles Wheatstone (1802-75) was a shoemaker's son whose fascination with physics led him to become one of the most celebrated scientists and inventors of his time. Apprenticed to his uncle, a musical instrument manufacturer, Wheatstone studied the physics of sound, publishing his first scientific paper in 1823. He was the chief developer of telegraphy, inventing increasingly advanced instruments for transmitting and receiving information. Telegraphy revolutionized communication in the Victorian era, eventually making almost instantaneous global communication possible. This collection of Wheatstone's works, first published in 1879, spans his entire career and includes fully illustrated details of many of his pioneering inventions. His broad-ranging research led to numerous important advances; those in telegraphy and cryptography were still in military use as late as the Second World War. This collection is a valuable source for the history of science, and a fitting tribute to Wheatstone's 'industry and versatility'.