1820 - founded firm (first ever) telegraph contractor in UK; constructed many instruments for Cooke and Wheatstone; involved with the laying of the first submarine telegraph cables across the English Channel; patented several widely-used improvements in subterranean cable-laying to protect the resin insulated wires; March 1856 - handed over management of his firm to his sons; moved from Glasgow to trade at 25 University Street, St Pancras, then London; his firm continued trading as electrical instrument makers until 1922