Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Glass, Richard Atwood
GLASS, Sir RICHARD ATWOOD (1820–1873), manufacturer of telegraph cables, was born at Bradford, Wiltshire, in 1820, and educated at King's College, London. He began life in a London accountant's office, where in the course of his business duties he became acquainted with Mr. Elliot, who was associated with the wire-rope manufactory of Kuper & Co. In 1852 Glass, who had a mechanical as well as a financial turn of mind, first adapted the wire-rope covering to submarine cables. It was first applied to the Dover and Calais cable, then partially completed. Afterwards the plan was adopted for many other cable services with great success. In the early days of submarine telegraphy Glass gave most valuable patronage and support to the enterprise by the manufacture of various descriptions of cable. The Atlantic cables of 1865 and 1866 were made under his direct superintendence. After being knighted for these services in 1866, Glass quitted the Telegraph Construction and Maintenance Company, and subsequently became chairman of the Anglo-American Telegraph Company. He was returned member for Bewdley, Worcestershire, in 1868, and sat for that constituency from December of that year until the March following, when he was unseated on petition. He married in 1854 Anne, daughter of Thomas Tanner, and died on 22 Dec. 1873 at Moorlands, Bitterne, Southampton.
[Ann. Reg. 1873; Sabine's Hist. of the Electric Telegraph; Times, 23 Dec. 1873.]