Professor Sir Charles Wheatstone

Charles Wheatstone 1837The year 2011 marked the 150th anniversary of the foundation by Sir Charles Wheatstone, Professor of Experimental Philosophy at King’s College, of the Universal Private Telegraph Company, one of the world’s first telecommunications companies.

This exhibition celebrates Wheatstone’s life and work as a scientist, inventor and businessman.

In his will Wheatstone bequeathed to the College his scientific and musical instruments and inventions, and his manuscripts and designs when he died in 1875.

While seeking to give an idea of the breadth of his interests, specific areas highlighted by this exhibition are his work in acoustics, electricity with the telegraph and optics with the stereoscope.

Included in this exhibition is a selection of designs, photographs and books and objects which are now in the care of the College Archives and Special Collections.

PLEASE NOTE: This exhibition originally ran from April – July 2011 in the foyer of the King’s building, King’s College London, and is now available to view as an online exhibition only.

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