Francis Ronalds, British scientist, inventor and engineer (d. 1873)
Sir Francis Ronalds FRS (21 February 1788 – 8 August 1873) was an English scientist and inventor, and arguably the first electrical engineer. He was knighted for creating the first working electric telegraph over a substantial distance. In 1816 he laid an eight-mile length of iron wire between wooden frames in his mother's garden and sent pulses using electrostatic generators.

1788Feb, 21
Francis Ronalds
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Events on 1788
- 18Jan
Botany Bay
The first elements of the First Fleet carrying 736 convicts from Great Britain to Australia arrive at Botany Bay. - 19Jan
Botany Bay
The second group of ships of the First Fleet arrive at Botany Bay. - 6Feb
United States Constitution
Massachusetts becomes the sixth state to ratify the United States Constitution. - 23May
United States Constitution
South Carolina ratifies the United States Constitution as the eighth American state. - 21Jun
Constitution of the United States
New Hampshire ratifies the Constitution of the United States and is admitted as the ninth state in the United States.