Pender, John (1815–1896)

British manufacturer and director of cable companies. He was engaged in the manufacture of textiles before he turned his attention to cables. He eventually took an important part in financing and managing the many companies which arose from the success of the Atlantic cable. He promoted cable enterprise in all parts of the world, and subsequently controlled companies whose combined capital was over £15 million and which owned 137,000 km/85,100 mi of cables. He represented Wick Burghs, Caithness, Scotland, in the British Parliament. Pender was born in the Vale of Leven, Fife, Scotland.