Francis Jacob

Francis Jacob (c1853-1924) chief electrician at Siemens Brothers and Co, Woolwich, and a prominent figure in submarine telegraphy and telephony.

---

1924 Obituary

"BY the death of Mr Francis Jacob, at the age of seventy-one, which took place on the 7th inst., there has been lost to the domain of submarine telegraphy and telephony a very prominent figure. Mr. Jacob was educated at Bedford Grammar School and King's College, where he was awarded the Siemens Gold Medal. He joined the firm of Siemens Brothers in 1873, and was for many years a actively engaged in designing and laying submarine cables, including the following :-The Brazilian cable for the Platino-Brazileira Telegraph Company, 1873-4; the Atlantic cable for the Cie Francaise du Telegraphe de Paris a New York, 1879; the Atlantic cables for the Western Union Telegraph Co, 1881 and 1882; and the Atlantic cables for the Commercial Cable Co in 1884, 1894 and 1900; &c. He was the inventor of the multiple twinning system for cables which is now universally adopted, and also of numerous testing devices and apparatus, including the Jacob's relay for submarine telegraphy. He was one of the oldest members of the Physical Society, and was regarded as being among the greatest authorities on cables. He contributed the article on this subject in the "Encyclopedia Britannica." For many years he was the chief electrician at Messrs Siemens Brothers' Woolwich works, and in 1914 was appointed the works general manager. He retired from the latter position in June, 1921, having completed nearly fifty years service with the company.

---

See Also

Loading...