William King (engineer) (original) (raw)

William Falconer King FRSE FRMetS (17 April 1851 – 6 October 1929 in Hunter's Quay, Argyll) was a Scottish engineer. He was a pioneer in the laying of submarine telegraphy cables. A student at the University of Glasgow and then employee of Sir William Thomson, King was responsible for laying the first transatlantic telegraph cable to Brazil, while serving as chief engineer (1873–84) of the Western and Brazilian Telegraph Company. For his services in Brazil Emperor Dom Pedro II awarded him a Knight of the Order of the Rose.