Hugh Adams Silver (14 July, 1825 St John's Wood - 27 March, 1912) was an English businessman, civil engineer and military officer.He founded the India Rubber, Gutta Percha and Telegraph Works in Silvertown, East London in 1864. He became an associate of the Institution of Civil Engineers in 1861. He was responsible for giving ebonite its name. He founded and equipped the 9th (Silvertown) Essex Rifle Volunteer Corps and was its commander with the rank of colonel. He was the son of Stephen Winckworth Silver, founder of .