Samuel Finley Breese Morse

Samuel Finley Breese Morse (1791-1872) While best remembered as the inventor of the Morse code and the successful inventor of the telegraph, Morse originally intended to be an artist. Born in Charlestown, Massachusetts, he was the son of the well-known minister and geographer, Jedediah Morse. Graduating from Yale in 1810, he accompanied the American artist, Washington Allston on a trip to Europe. Studying with Benjamin West in London, Morse became imbued with the tradition that historical painting was the only valid subject for an artist. Returning to the United States in 1815, he wanted to pursue the intellectual side of history painting, but found very little patronage outside New York City. Most of his commissions were for portraits, and these in areas where he had relatives: Concord, New Hampshire; Charleston, South Carolina; and Cherry Valley and Utica, New York. An extremely talented artist and capable leader, Morse was one of the founders of the National Academy of Design in 1826 and appointed Professor of Literature and the Arts of Design at New York University. However, his artistic endeavors were not supported and he was almost penniless. Failing to obtain the federal commission for one of the rotunda paintings in the U.S. capitol in 1837, Morse abandoned his career in art. Even following his immense success with the telegraph in the 1840s, Morse often reflected bitterly on his past artistic life and is said to have never painted again.