This research was to introduce retardation phenomenon, during construction of submarine cables in the late 19th century, as an empirical event to change misconceptions into scientific concepts about electric field. The concept of field, different from the concepts of force and current, was misunderstood and students are often confused with misconceptions. The empirical event that could be only explained by the concept of field would help students construct the scientific concept on field. Historically, the concept of electric field was developed in the late 19th century while opposing or combining with existing concepts of electric current and action-at-a-distance and in the process retardation phenomenon played an important role. This research analyzed the process through which retardation and electric field were introduced into physics textbooks, focusing on two printed textbooks in the late 19th century England. The results showed that retardation phenomenon was introduced, explaining self-induction with Faraday s experiment and Thomson s explanation. If current textbooks introduce retardation in submarine cables to explain self-induction, it would be helpful for students to understand the concept of electric field.