Leonard Gale

Leonard Gale, who helped Samuel Morse achieve the technological breakthrough of getting the telegraphic signal to travel long distances over wire

Dr. Leonard Dunnell Gale (Jul. 25, 1800- Oct. 22, 1883)was a graduate from Union College in Schenectady N.Y., afterwards devoting himself to the pursuit of chemistry.and became a professor in several institutions of learning. In 1833 he made a geological survey of Manhattan Island, and not long afterward was appointed professor of chemistry and mineralogy in the New York City University. In 1836 he formed the acquaintance of Prof. Samuel.F.B. Morse, and by his familiarity with the discoveries of Professor Henry was enabled to render his colleague's project of an electromagnetic telegraph successful in operation. In 1846 he came to Washington, and for eleven years was an examiner in the Patent Office in charge of the department of chemical inventions. In 1857, having been removed from that office, he practiced in D.C. for some years as an expert and attorney in chemical applications. he is buried in the Washington congressional Cemetery.