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Ray Tomlinson in 1971
http://email.about.com/cs/emailhistory/a/first_email.htm
alis volat propriis
If 'email' is loosely defined as 'messages transmitted electronically', then the first 'email messages' would have started in the last century with telegraph messages (by wire) and Morse Code transmissions (via airways).
This definition would also include the telex network that was used extensively by business on a world-wide basis from the mid-1920's to the mid-1980's. The telex network was independent of the telephone network and telex machines could connect with and communicate with any other telex machine on a global scale. Telex also was relatively secure in that the sending and receiving machines did identifying handshaking. It was relatively expensive to have a 'telex line' installed and subsequent telex messages were charged on a data transmitted basis. In addition, for much of its history, use of telex required a dedicated 'telex terminal' which was less than intuitive and often required trained operators. [ It may come as a surprise to many in this age of computers and chips everywhere that telex is still operating and being used throughout the world.]
During the 1960's and 1970's many companies who were using mainframe and mini computers also used email facilities on those systems. This enabled users of terminals attached to those systems to send messages to each other. As companies began to connect their central systems (hosts) to branch offices and subsidiaries then employees were able to send email to other employees of that company on a world-wide basis.
Also during this time the US Department of Defence's research into computer networks was well underway, resulting in the embryonic ARPANET --the forerunner to the now global Internet. According to information regarding these early years, the first ARPANET network email message was transmitted in 1971.
jamal
be sure that the first email had been sent on 1971 from a computer to another
GordoBGoode
Technically, it was the first message sent between two computers in the mid-70s (I think).
Jinjin
It was in the 1960s ... Arpanet was the first internet, consisting of 5 computers.