Samuel F. B. Morse, His Letters and Journals: In Two Volumes, Volume I

In Short

Compiled by his son, this collection of letters, journals, and personal records documents the early life and artistic career of Samuel F. B. Morse. Before his name became synonymous with the telegraph, Morse was an ambitious American painter studying in London, running a portrait studio in Charleston, and absorbing the grand treasures of European art. The volume traces his personal joys, tragic family losses, and intense creative drive across the United States and Europe. It ends as his artistic training, paired with a growing fascination for electrical science, prepares him to embark on the invention that would revolutionize global communication.

The Story

The narrative opens with young Samuel Finley Breese Morse as an unsteady, easily distracted student at Yale, where his pious parents regularly lecture him on the evils of gunning parties, wine, and squandered allowances. Despite their strict admonitions, Morse discovers a passion for art and eventually secures his parents' support to travel to England in 1811 to study painting under Washington Allston and Benjamin West.

In London, Morse immerses himself in classical technique, painting alongside fellow artists like Charles Robert Leslie. He paints ambitious historical compositions and meets notable figures such as William Wilberforce and Henry Thornton. However, the War of 1812 creates a hostile environment for Americans in England. Morse finds himself defending his homeland's honor against British arrogance while simultaneously struggling with financial anxiety and the cold commercial realities of art patronage.

Upon returning to America, Morse seeks to make a living through portraiture, travelling between New England, Washington, and Charleston, South Carolina. In Charleston, his fortunes rise dramatically when he receives over a hundred commissions to paint prominent citizens. He uses his newfound stability to marry and continue expanding his artistic ambitions, eventually painting a massive, highly detailed group portrait of the United States House of Representatives in Washington.

Tragedy strikes in 1825 while Morse is working away from home. His beloved wife dies suddenly in New Haven, leaving him heartbroken before he even receives word of her illness. Devastated, Morse channels his energy back into his profession. He helps establish the National Academy of Design in New York, serving as its leader and organizing major public exhibitions. During this period, he also attends lectures on electricity by Professor James Freeman Dana, sparking a intellectual interest that silently lays the foundation for his future work.

In 1829, Morse embarks on a second extended tour of Europe, spending years traveling through France and Italy. He copies masterworks in the Louvre, wanders the ruined monasteries and coastal roads of Italy, and attends religious ceremonies in Rome. Along the way, he forms close friendships with luminaries like sculptor Horatio Greenough, novelist James Fenimore Cooper, and the Polish military leader Prince Michael Jerome Radziwill. The volume concludes as Morse returns from his European travels, fully matured in character, firm in his religious faith, and unwittingly poised to pivot from the world of fine art to the dawn of the electrical age.

How It Unfolds

Youth and parental instruction Young Morse attends college while receiving frequent, stern letters from his parents forbidding alcohol and gunning trips. He eventually earns their approval to pursue painting as a life passion.

Artistic apprenticeship in London Morse travels to England in 1811 to study under Allston and West, immersing himself in canvas study while navigating the political tensions of the War of 1812.

Southern portrait commissions Returning home, Morse finds success in Charleston, South Carolina, where he secures dozens of lucrative portrait orders from wealthy patrons.

Tragedy in New Haven While away on business in Washington, Morse receives a delayed letter from his father informing him that his young wife has died suddenly of a heart condition.

Founding the National Academy Morse settles in New York, rents rooms on Murray Street, and leads the creation of the National Academy of Design to showcase American artists.

European sojourn and Roman travels Morse returns to Europe, spending time in Paris and Rome, studying papal processions, sketching in the Coliseum, and living among fellow expatriate creators like James Fenimore Cooper and Horatio Greenough.

The People

• Samuel F. B. Morse: The central figure, a deeply religious and ambitious painter who travels the world honing his art, enduring intense personal loss, and laying the groundwork for a second career as an inventor.
• Jedidiah Morse: Samuel’s father, a devoted clergyman who constantly guides, scolds, and supports his son through financial struggles and personal grief.
• Lucretia Pickering Walker Morse: Samuel’s first wife, whose sudden and premature death in 1825 deeply devastates Morse while he is away working on a commission in Washington.
• Washington Allston: An accomplished American painter who serves as Morse’s mentor and trusted artistic advisor during his early years in London.
• James Fenimore Cooper: The famous American author, who becomes a close companion to Morse during their mutual travels across Europe, sharing jokes, political views, and letters.
• Horatio Greenough: A warm, talented American sculptor living in Italy who forms a deep bond of mutual respect and camaraderie with Morse.

In Its Own Voice

When receiving stern warnings from his mother about his spendthrift behavior, Morse quickly relents and writes back in December 1805:

"I shall not go out to gun any more, for I know it makes you anxious about me."

Experiencing the overwhelming grandeur of the French capital upon his arrival on New Year's Day in 1830, Morse writes in his diary:

"Indeed, it is a long walk simply to pass up and down the long hall, the end of which from the opposite end is scarcely visible, but is lost in the mist of distance."

Reflecting on his bond with Morse as they prepare to part ways in Europe, the sculptor Horatio Greenough writes:

"Believe me it arose from my so rarely finding one to whom I could be natural and give loose without fear of good faith or good nature ever failing."

What It's Really About

Beneath the travelogues and artistic triumphs, the volume explores the tension between idealism and practical survival in nineteenth-century society. Morse constantly struggles to elevate art beyond a mere commercial trade, holding himself to high aesthetic and moral standards even when facing financial ruin or public apathy.

The book also deals deeply with faith and resilience. Morse views every misfortune—from failed commissions to the tragic death of his wife—through a lens of divine providence, attempting to remain grateful and humble despite life's reversals.

Finally, it captures an era of rapid cultural and technological shift. Through Morse's eyes, we witness the friction between the old European aristocracy and the emerging American republic, as well as the early sparks of scientific curiosity that would soon transform world history.

Why Read It Today

This volume offers a vivid, deeply personal window into the life of an iconic American historical figure long before he became famous for the telegraph. Readers who enjoy nineteenth-century history, travel writing, or biographies of creative minds will find immense pleasure in Morse's sharp observations and heartfelt correspondence. His firsthand accounts of meeting kings, politicians, and master painters bring the Regency and Romantic eras to life with remarkable immediacy.

The book's tone is grounded, sincere, and earnest, filled with the warmth of family letters and the romantic color of early American art circles. Readers should be prepared, however, for the leisurely pacing characteristic of nineteenth-century memoirs, as well as period attitudes—including strong anti-Catholic biases in Morse's notes on Italian religious ceremonies and traditional patriarchal views on family life.

What stays with you is Morse's unyielding work ethic and emotional strength. Whether painting fourteen hours a day by candlelight in the Capitol or coping with personal tragedy far from home, his story is an inspiring testament to human determination and artistic passion.