ABG - Part 1 1847 - 1876== Born March 3, 1847

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  • Alec (14) graduates from Royal High School

    Also known graduates were David Hume/Adam Smith (economics)
    Robert Burns/Sir Walter Scott (writers)
  • Period: to

    Teaches at Weston House

    leaves home at 16 to teach at a boarding school
    taught for 18 months
    deal made with Melly so they could afford to go to school

  • Melville's road tour of Visible Speech

    All 3 boys were "performers" on this tour
    disrupted the plan for a university education
  • Period: to

    Bell's move from Scotland to London

    Melville convinced he would get more recognition for Visible Speech

  • Edward (18) dies of TB (White Plague)

    Alec had moved to England, living and teaching in Bath. But moves home during this family crisis to the relief of his parents...giving up his autonomy.

  • Melly dies (25) of TB

    Alec (23) now only surviving son
    Melly - brainy older brother who captured father's attention, Edward the sickly younger brother with mother's attention.

  • Alec leaves London for Newfoundland with parents

    Alec also not well and parents moved to get Alec out of the "bad air"
    Alec says "He went to Canada to die"
  • Period: to

    Bell's leave London for Newfoundland (Brantford)

    home
  • Period: to

    Alec teaches deaf students at several different schools

    1-Melville recommends Alec to teach at Boston School of Deaf Mutes, 2-Alec makes connections and teaches at Clarke Institution
    Alec spends summers in Brantford with parents

  • Professor at Boston University

    Vocal Physiology and Elocution at new School of Oratory

  • Mabel Hubbard (15) enrolls in Boston U

    for private lessons with Alec (26)

  • Mabel braves snowstorm and shows up for lessons

    Alec and Abby both surprised to see her
    Alec escorts her home

  • Alec spends summer in Brantford

    Alec sick from working so hard on telegraph
    Packs up and goes home

  • Eureka moment when Alec understands the principle of the telephone

    Alec knew how the ear worked

  • Alec invited to tea party at Hubbard's

    Alec played the piano and then demonstrated piano could repeat a note sung to it...Hubbard found his inventor

  • Partnership agreement with Alec, Thomas Sanders, and Hubbard

    Alec coached on documentation and getting a patent application filed

  • Alec gets an assistant: Thomas Watson (22)

    Watson worked at Willson's metal shop, but almost exclusively worked with Alec

  • Alec goes to DC to file patent for the harmonic telegraph

    to protect his ideas
    establishing him as the first inventor to have a workable idea

  • Alec writes Mabel's mother for advice on his interest in Mabel

    At this time Alec realizes he has feelings for Mabel that aren't friendship

  • Mabel leaves for Nantucket

    To spend summer with spinster cousin Mary

  • Alec goes to Nantucket to tell Mabel how he feels

    travel challenges getting there force Alec to put his feelings in a letter
    He delivers the letter to Mary and never sees Mabel

  • Mabel returns home ready to receive Alec

    said she liked him, but did not yet love him
    Alec certain Mabel would learn to love him

  • Mable's 18th birthday - also Thanksgiving

    Mabel tells Alec she loves him better than anybody but her mother and would be engaged to him

  • Hubbard files for patent on Alec's behalf for the "speaking telegraph"

    without consulting Alec

  • Patent was issued to Alec (now 29) for the "speaking telegraph"

  • "Watson come here I need you"

    was heard from the receiver...the phone works
  • Period: to

    Alec began giving demonstrations of the telephone prototype and then the actual telephone

    Alec understood that scientific demonstrations provided popular entertainment (pre-movie era) and he needed the money

  • opening of World Exhibition in Philly

    100th anniversary of the American Revolution

  • Alec won't go to Philly so Hubbard engages Mabel to get Alec there

    Both the Multiple telegraph and the speaking telegraph were on display as well as Visible Speech

  • Alec demonstrates the telephone for the judges

    Alec wins 2 gold medals...
    His was the only telephone that worked, the other for Visible Speech
  • Period: to

    Alex spends summer in Brantford -- away from Mabel

  • Alec demonstrates the telephone with "to be or not to be"

    Guest list of dignitaries (parlament members, bank presidents, etc_)
    Toronto paper runs article about the invention Aug 11

  • Alec still hasn't filed the report needed to receive his gold metal awards

  • Hubbard takes Mabel on train trip across American continent

    Hubbard's attempt to get Alec to action and it worked
    Alec had sends specifications to London and report to Philly for the award

  • Two way conversation occurs 18 miles apart

    Press takes note…giving Alec needed credibility with manufacturers and fellow inventors