Peter Shortland

Peter Frederick Shortland (c. 1815 – 18 October 1888) was a British naval officer and hydrographic surveyor.

He was noted for his work in North America, and for surveys involving deep soundings, particularly in preparation for the laying of submarine cables.

He entered the Navy on 15 January 1827, passed his examinations in December 1834, and was appointed sub-lieutenant.

In 1855-6 he was involved in sounding the depths between the SW point of Newfoundland and Cape Breton Island to determine the best route for a submarine telegraph cable.

[6] While carrying out this survey he made a number of improvements to the methods used for deep soundings, which led to a request from the Hydrographer to publish an account of the voyage.