Telegraphy and the British Postal Reforms (1837–1870)

1. Cooke and Wheatstone patent needle telegraph

   May 1, 1837Labels: Cooke, Wheatstone, Needle telegraph

   • Britannica
   • Needle Telegraph

2. Post Office (Offences) Act consolidates postal law

   Jul 12, 1837Labels: Post Office, Postmaster General

   • GBPS Act

3. Railways (Conveyance of Mails) Act links mail and rail

   Aug 14, 1838Labels: Railways Conveyance, British railways

   • Railways Act
   • GBPS Act

4. Postage Act 1839 authorizes major postal reform

   Aug 17, 1839Labels: Postage Act, Uniform postage

   • Postage Act

5. Uniform Fourpenny Post introduced as interim rate

   Dec 5, 1839Labels: Uniform Fourpenny, Prepaid rate

   • Fourpenny Post
   • UK Postal History

6. Uniform Penny Post begins nationwide penny letters

   Jan 10, 1840Labels: Uniform Penny, Prepaid postage

   • UK Postal History
   • Penny Post

7. Penny Black goes on sale in Britain

   May 1, 1840Labels: Penny Black, Adhesive stamp

   • NPM Great Britain
   • Penny Black

8. Penny Black becomes valid for postage use

   May 6, 1840Labels: Penny Black, Postal validity

   • Penny Black
   • NPM Penny Black

9. Public telegraph service established via Slough extension

   Jan 1, 1843Labels: Slough extension, Great Western

   • Needle Telegraph

10. Electric Telegraph Company formed for public telegraphy

    Jan 1, 1846Labels: Electric Telegraph, John Lewis

    • ETC
    • Britannica

11. Magnetic Telegraph Company founded as major competitor

    Jan 1, 1850Labels: Magnetic Telegraph, John Brett

    • Magnetic Co
    • UK Telegraphy

12. Telegraph Act 1868 authorizes Post Office acquisition

    Jul 31, 1868Labels: Telegraph Act, Post Office

    • UK Legislation
    • Telegraph Act

13. Post Office expands telegraph service after nationalization

    Jan 1, 1870Labels: Post Office, Telegraph nationalization

    • UK Telegraphy
    • Britannica

14. Telegraph Act 1870 extends nationalization to islands

    Aug 9, 1870Labels: Telegraph Act, Crown dependencies

    • Telegraph Act 1870
    • UK Legislation