| Vail, Alfred Lewis (1807-1859) |
| US communications pioneer. A
close associate of Samuel Morse 1837, he developed an improved design for
the telegraph mechanism, beginning production of the new model 1838. With
US Congressional funding for a telegraph line between Washington and Baltimore,
Vail renewed his working relationship with Morse 1844. Vail was born in Morristown, New Jersey, educated at New York University, and worked as a mechanic at his father's iron foundry. His book The American Electro Magnetic Telegraph was published 1845, and he retired from business 1849. |