Pender was born in the Tarboro area of Edgecombe County to Solomon and Mary Batts Pender. Pender followed in his father"s footsteps by entering the United States. Military Academy in 1835, but left the following year due to his unwillingness to adapt to military life.
After leaving the academy, he studied painting in Paris and Rome before returning to the United States in 1840.
He is best known for leading the capture of Fort Macon in April 1861. Pender bought the Atlantic Hotel on the waterfront in Beaufort in 1856. Pender married twice.
Pender joined the Confederate Army in 1861, forming the Beaufort Harbor Guards with the purpose of taking over Fort Macon before Union troops could seize lieutenant
Battle of Fort Macon
On April 14, 1861, Pender recaptured Fort Macon from Union soldiers. Discharge
In November 1861, Pender was convicted of being absent without leave and was discharged from the army.
After his discharge, Pender became part of a blockade running operation, smuggling goods out of Bermuda to support the Confederates. He also sailed to England to obtain goods, where he caught yellow fever.
Pender died in Beaufort from yellow fever on October 25, 1864.
