Edward Cracknell

Edward Cracknell (1831 – 14 January 1893) was New South Wales superintendent of telegraphs.

Cracknell was born at Rochester, England, and educated at the University of Oxford. He came to Adelaide as Assistant Superintendent of Telegraphs with Charles Todd in November 1855, and became Assistant Superintendent of Telegraphs, New South Wales, in January 1858, opening the first telegraph line to Liverpool on the 26th of that month. In 1861 he became Superintendent of Telegraphs. In 1876 he studied torpedo warfare, and was lieut.-colonel commanding the N.S.W. Torpedo and Signalling Corps. His younger brother, William John Cracknell, was for many years Superintendent of Telegraphs in Queensland.