William Thomas Henley facts for kids

William Thomas Henley (1814–1882) was a very important person in making telegraph cables. These cables were used to send messages across long distances, even under the ocean! Henley started his journey from humble beginnings and taught himself many skills. He became a successful inventor and businessman, helping to connect the world with his amazing cables.

Early Life and Big Ideas

William Henley was born in 1814. When he was about 16, in 1830, he worked as a porter in Cheapside, London. After some disagreements, he left that job and worked at the St Katherine Docks for six years. During this time, he was determined to learn a skill. He used money from his aunt to buy tools like a lathe and a vice. With these tools, he taught himself how to work with wood and metal. He also started experimenting with electricity.

First Inventions

In 1837, Henley designed and built a special machine. This machine could cover wires with silk or cotton thread. This was an important step for making insulated wires, which are needed for electrical cables. You can still see this machine today at the London Science Museum.

Around 1858, Henley created another important device called a galvanometer. This instrument was used to detect very weak electrical signals. One of his galvanometers was used in Ireland for the first transatlantic telegraph cable in 1858. It helped receive the very first signal sent from North America! This galvanometer is also kept at the London Science Museum.

Building a Cable Company

In 1857, William Henley started his own business to make submarine cables. These are special cables laid on the seabed to carry telegraph messages across oceans. By 1859, he had a large factory right next to the River Thames in North Woolwich.

Making Transatlantic Connections

Henley's company bought the inner parts of the cables, called cores, from other companies. These cores had the electrical wires and their insulation. Then, Henley's factory would add the outer layers and protection. His company became very important. In 1865, they even made the shore ends of the second Transatlantic cable. This was a huge project that helped connect continents! Over time, his company grew to make all parts of the cables, including the gutta-percha and rubber insulation. They also started laying and repairing cables themselves.

Cable Ships and Adventures

To lay and repair their massive cables, W.T. Henley's Telegraph Works Co., Ltd. needed its own ships. These ships were specially designed to carry and deploy long lengths of heavy cable across the ocean.

The Story of CS La Plata

One of their ships was called CS La Plata. In 1874, another company, Siemens Brothers, hired La Plata for a big job. They needed to lay a cable between Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and Chuy, Uruguay. Sadly, another ship had sunk during this project, losing a lot of cable. La Plata was on its way to finish this important cable laying task. However, on November 29, 1874, La Plata also sank in the Bay of Biscay. Fifty-eight crew members and the remaining cable were lost. This was a very sad event for the company. Henley's other company ships included CS Africa, CS Caroline, and CS Westmeath.

The Company's Legacy

After William Henley's time, his company continued to operate for many years. W. T. Henley Ltd. was bought by a company called AEI in 1959. Later, in 1967, AEI became part of GEC.

In 1997, the company was sold again to TT electronics. Today, the company is a part of SICAME UK Limited. In July 2018, the company moved to a brand new factory in Hoo, near Rochester. William Thomas Henley's pioneering work laid the foundation for a company that has continued to be a part of the electrical industry for over a century.