Born in Bologna in 1874 to Italian gentleman and Irish mother. Studied physics and electrical science from childhood. Received private education in Bologna, Florence and Leghorn
Samuel Morse, Joseph Henry, and Alfred Vail created an electrical telegraph system in 1837. The system used paper tape to mark indentations when electric currents were received. Alfred Vail expanded the code to include letters and special characters in 1840. The code was first used in 1844 and became known as American Morse code