William Fothergill Cooke - Differences With Wheatstone

Differences With Wheatstone

As inferred herein above, a priority dispute had arisen between Cooke and Wheatstone toward the end of 1840. The matter was simple. Cooke had become alarmed at seeing published information and accounts of the day citing Wheatstone as the sole inventor of the Cooke and Wheatstone telegraph system. Thus, a difference arose between Cooke and Wheatstone as to the share each held in the honour of inventing the telegraph.

This question of priority was submitted to the arbitration of the famous engineer, Marc Isambard Brunel, on the part of Cooke, and Professor John Frederic Daniell, of King's College, the inventor of the Daniell cell or battery - on behalf of Wheatstone.

Ultimately in the spring of 1841, the Cooke and Wheatstone arbitration process came to a close. A statement dated 27 April 1841 prepared by M I. Brunel and J. F. Daniell, Esq. known as "The Award" was issued.

The arbitration awarded Cooke the credit of having introduced the telegraph as a useful undertaking which promised to be of national importance, and to Wheatstone; that his researches prepared the public to receive it. The arbitration published a conclusion citing: "....it is to the united labours of two gentlemen so well qualified for mutual assistance that we must attribute the rapid progress which this important invention has made during five years since they have been associated."

The decision, however vague, succinctly pronounced the needle telegraph a joint production. Many historical accounts over the past 170 years show that the telegraph had mainly been invented by Wheatstone. It would be better to more formidably refine this by saying that Wheatstone's grounded scientific guidance oversaw and assured that Cooke's basic finalized designs for the telegraph were fully workable; that they were based on sound scientific principals before they became chiefly introduced by Cooke into society through his concerted and precise business acumen.

Following the arbitration decree, an arrangement was agreed to between Wheatstone and Cooke by which several patents were assigned to Cooke, with the reservation of a mileage royalty provided to Wheatstone.