George Vail

George Vail (July 21, 1809 – May 23, 1875) was an American Democratic Party politician who represented New Jersey's 4th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives from 1853 to 1857. His father Stephen Vail, and his brother Alfred Vail were the driving force behind the success of the Speedwell Iron Works. Father and sons assisted in the technical expertise and financial development of this family business. The Vail family contributions to mechanical inventions, early communication, transportation industry, and mass production placed Speedwell at the cutting edge of the American Industrial Revolution.

Biography

He was born in Morristown, New Jersey on July 21, 1809 to Stephen Vail. He had a brother, Alfred Vail who partnered with Samuel Morse to invent the telegraph and the Morse Code.

He completed preparatory studies and attended The Morris Academy in Morristown. George Vail and his brother George Vail's cousin was Theodore Newton Vail, who became the first president of American Telephone & Telegraph