Family and Background
– Cromwell Fleetwood Varley was born in Kentish Town, London.
– His father, Cornelius Varley, was a member of the Society of Arts and known for his scientific research.
– His mother was Elizabeth Livermore Straker.
– Varley had two brothers, Samuel Alfred Varley and Frederick Henry Varley, who were also involved in telegraphy.
– Varley’s family believed they were descendants of Oliver Cromwell and General Charles Fleetwood.
Telegraph Engineer
– Varley joined the Electric Telegraph Company in 1846.
– He became the chief engineer for the London area in 1852 and for the entire company in 1861.
– Varley invented techniques and instruments for fault-finding and improving telegraph performance.
– In 1870, he patented the ‘cymaphen,’ a telegraph that could transmit speech.
– Varley played a crucial role in the investigation and success of the transatlantic telegraph cable.
Spiritualism
– Varley was sympathetic to the claims of Spiritualism.
– He conducted investigations with physicist William Crookes using a galvanometer to measure supposed phenomena.
– Varley’s interest in Spiritualism influenced his scientific pursuits.
– He believed in the existence of paranormal phenomena and sought to study them scientifically.
– Varley’s work in Spiritualism was a significant aspect of his career.
Cathode Rays
– In 1871, Varley published a scientific paper proposing that cathode rays were streams of particles of electricity.
– He believed that these particles were carriers of an electric charge.
– Varley’s belief was based on the deflection of cathode rays in the presence of a magnet.
– He also speculated that electrically charged particles would be deflected by an electric field.
– However, Varley was unable to prove his theories.
Scandal
– Varley had two sons and two daughters with his first wife, Ellen Cayley.
– His wife left him for Ion Perdicaris, a wealthy Greek-American.
– After their divorce in 1873, Ellen and the children settled with Perdicaris in Tangiers, Morocco.
– In 1904, Varley’s elder son, Cromwell, was kidnapped along with Perdicaris, causing an international incident.
– Both men were eventually released unharmed. Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C._F._Varley
Cromwell Fleetwood Varley, FRSA (6 April 1828 – 2 September 1883) was an English engineer, particularly associated with the development of the electric telegraph and the transatlantic telegraph cable. He also took interest in the claims of parapsychology and spiritualism.
Cromwell Fleetwood Varley | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 6 April 1828 |
| Died | 2 September 1883 (aged 55) |
| Occupation(s) | Engineer, parapsychologist |
| Known for | Varley loop test Kelvin–Varley divider |
| Parent | Cornelius Varley |
| Awards | FRS (1871) |
