The Fender Guitar Company was founded in 1946 in Fullerton, California by Leo Fender. It was originally known as the Fender Electric Instrument Manufacturing Company. Leo Fender was an inventor who had been making some custom guitars and amplifiers in his radio shop and felt that he could improve on the hollow-body amplified guitars that existed at that time.
In 1951 Fender introduced the Broadcaster guitar. This prototype solid-body, electric guitar would eventually become the Telecaster, which was the first solid-body electric guitar to go into commercial production. The Tele was followed by the first mass-produced electric bass, the Precision bass and the still incredibly popular Stratocaster.
Fender is a very important guitar company because it was the first guitar company to bring solid body, electric guitars to the masses. Fender used low-cost, manufacturing-oriented bolt-together designs. Although not the first company to produce electric guitars, Fender Guitar was one the most successful commercially.
You can find some great resources here at the Fender Guitar Squidoo Lens.
