What did Cyrus Field invent?

Cyrus West Field founded the Atlantic Telegraph Company and was responsible for the first trans-Atlantic telegraph cable. Although Field did not invent the telegraph, his vision was essential to crossing the Atlantic with the technology.

Field got the idea to cross the Atlantic with a telegraph line after talking to Frederick Gisbourne in 1854 with respect to a Newfoundland telegraph company. The initial laying of the telegraph line was completed in August 1858. The first telegraph sent across the Atlantic was sent by Queen Victoria to U.S. President James Buchanan. Unfortunately, the first telegraph line broke down after only three weeks and was not successfully replaced until 1866.