July 27, Cross Atlantic Communication Day

On July 27, 1866 the first sustained trans-Atlantic telegraph cable was completed. It could just as easily be called Stick To It Day due to the sheer tenacity of entrepreneur Cyrus Field, who effected its completion. His first attempt in 1857 was to lay 1700 miles of cable between Newfoundland and Ireland. The next attempt in 1858 was initially successful and was celebrated with the brief exchange between President Buchanan and Queen Victoria. The next attempt was in 1865 after the American Civil War, but the cable snapped after 1000. The mission finally succeeded the following year.