John Pender (1816–96)

Scottish textile merchant and telegraph entrepreneur. Textile trader in Glasgow and Manchester, trading with China and India. In 1864, founded the Telegraph Construction and Maintenance Company, which successfully laid cable between Ireland and Newfoundland in 1866. Reorganised the four companies involved in the link to India; the line was completed in June 1870. Formed the Eastern Telegraph Company in 1872. Liberal MP for Totnes, 1862–6; for the Wick burghs, 1872–85; and, as a Liberal Unionist, 1892–6. Knighted, 1888.