British Telegraph Company

This material is held atBT Group Archives

Scope and Content

This collection consists of legal records relating to the foundation of the British Telegraph Company.

Administrative / Biographical History

The British Telegraph Company was formed in 1853, through the merger of the European and American Electric Printing Telegraph Company and the British Electric Telegraph Company. It proposed to use Edward Highton's patents, which had been granted to the British Electric Telegraph Company. Its chief engineer was James Simpson of Middlesex.

The purpose of the company was to lay down submarine and other telegraph cables to link London and Dublin, major towns in Great Britain, Ireland and Europe.

Arrangement

This collection has been arranged by business function.

Access Information

Available for research at BT Group Archives, see www.bt.com/archives .

Acquisition Information

These records were transferred by the Post Office Archives between 1 June 1991 and 30 April 1992.

Other Finding Aids

Full catalogues for BT Group Archives can be searched at www.bt.com/archivesonline .