Telegraph cable laying. Historical artwork of a ship laying a telegraph cable across the English Channel from Dover to Calais. Two unsuccessful attempts to lay a telegraph cable were made in 1847 and 1850, before British engineer Jacob Brett succeeded in September 1851. Brett was successful because of progress in many techniques, for example a process for insulating the cables with a layer of gutta-percha (rubber) had been developed. The cross-Channel cable allowed Britain to be connected to the European telegraph system. Published in La Telegraphie Historique (History of Telegraphy) by Alexis Belloc in 1888.