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First telegraph despatch from Lyon, 4 March 1815, (1921). Creator: Unknown
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First telegraph despatch from Lyon, 4 March 1815, (1921). Creator: Unknown
First telegraph despatch from Lyon, 4 March 1815, (1921). Premiere depeche telegraphique de Lyon. Message sent via French inventor Claude Chappes (1763-1805) optical telegraph (semaphore) system, devised in 1793. Messages were converted into semaphore using movable arms on the tops of repeater towers which were placed from 12 to 25 km (10 to 20 miles) apart. The message was read through a telescope, then relayed it to the next tower. Messages sent from Paris could reach the outer fringes of the country in a matter of three or four hours. Before, it had taken despatch riders on horseback a similar number of days. Chappes system was in use until about 1850 when electric telegraph systems replaced it. This message states that the emperor has arrived on the coast of France with 1600 men. Facsimile document from " Napoleon", by Raymond Guyot, [H. Floury, Paris, 1921]
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Media ID 19667491
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1st Consul Bonaparte Bonaparte Bonaparte General Bonaparte Napoleon L Emperor Of France Bonaparte The Corsican Boney Buonaparte Claude Chappe Corsica Corsican Despatch Document Emperor Napoleon First Consul Bonaparte Floury Henri General Bonaparte Guyot Guyot Raymond H Floury H Floury éditeur H Flouryediteur Henri Floury Information Librairie Henri Floury Message Napo Napoleon Napoleon 1 Napoleon 1st Napoleon Bonaparte Napoleon Buonaparte Napoleon I Napoleon L Napoleone Di Buonaparte Napoleonic Wars News Raymond Raymond Guyot Semaphore Signature Telecommunication Telecommunications Telegraph Telegraphy
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EDITORS COMMENTS
This print captures a significant moment in history - the first telegraph despatch from Lyon on March 4,1815. The image showcases French inventor Claude Chappes' ingenious optical telegraph system, also known as semaphore. Developed in 1793, this revolutionary communication method involved converting messages into semaphore using movable arms on repeater towers placed at intervals of 12 to 25 km (10 to 20 miles). The message depicted in this facsimile document reveals that Emperor Napoleon has arrived on the coast of France with an army of 1600 men. This groundbreaking technology allowed news to travel swiftly across vast distances, reaching even the outer fringes of the country within three or four hours. Prior to its invention, such information would have taken days for despatch riders on horseback. Although Chappes' system remained in use until around 1850 when electric telegraph systems took over, it played a pivotal role during its time by revolutionizing long-distance communication. The photograph itself is a testament to both technological advancement and historical significance. Preserved through time and now brought back to life by Heritage Images, this print offers us a glimpse into an era where innovation transformed the way we connect and share information. It serves as a reminder of how far we've come while honoring those who paved the way for modern telecommunications systems that shape our world today.
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