Manuscript Group 1005, W.D. Craven, Biographical Sketch of John Joseph Craven, n.d.
Archives Documents, Manuscripts, Maps, & Photographs
MG 1005
Craven, W.D.
Biographical Sketch of John Joseph Craven,
n.d.
18 pages. 1 folder.
Statement (ca. 1848) concerning John Joseph Craven (1822-1893), a
Newark, N.J. (Essex County) resident who worked with Samuel Morse
at the Magnetic Telegraph Company, experimenting in the
construction of underwater telegraph cables. In 1851 he
studied medicine with Dr. Gabriel Grant (1826-1912), attended
classes at the College of Physicians and Surgeons of New York,
and earned a degree at the Baltimore Academy of Medicine. He
practiced medicine in Newark until he joined the Civil War as a
surgeon in 1861. Dr. Craven returned in 1867 to practice medicine
in Jersey City (Essex Co.:N.J.) where he also worked for the
abattoir business, inventing scientific and sanitary machinery
for factories and for transportation of fresh meat products.
The sketch, signed by W.D. Craven, seeks to prove that Dr. Craven
was responsible for the discovery that Gutta-Percha, a gum from
the Island of Borneo, was suitable as an insulation for
underwater telegraph cables. According to the sketch, John Joseph
Craven demonstrated its use in 1847 by transmitting telegraph
messages beneath streams and rivers. In 1848, he applied for a
patent which was refused by the patent office. The sketch says in
part: The facts submitted in this narrative are taken from
the printed sworn testimony heard in the United States Circuit
Court for the Southern District of New York.
1005. CRAVEN, W.D.
Biographical Sketch ofJohnJoseph Craven, n.d. 18 pages.
Seeks to prove that John Joseph Craven was responsible for the
discovery
that gutta percha was suitable to be used as insulation for
underwater
telegraph cables. According to the sketch, John Joseph
Craven
demonstrated this in 1847 by transmitting telegraph
messages
beneath streams and rivers. A Newark resident, John
Joseph
Craven (1822-93) was later a physician in the Civil War.
Submit a request to copy part of this collection
