Edward Robert Peacock
Encyclopedia
Sir
Edward Robert Peacock, GCVO (1871–1962) was a Canadian
merchant bank
er, born in St. Elmo, Glengarry County
, Ontario
. He is perhaps best known as a director of the Bank of England
, or for his role as Receiver General
to the Duchy of Cornwall
.
minister, who died shortly after he was born. His mother then moved to Almonte
where he received his schooling. He went to Queen's University
, and under the tutelage of Adam Shortt
he studied Philosophy
and Political economy
, graduating in 1894 with a gold and silver medal respectively.
. Then, in 1902, he left the teaching profession to work for the investment company Dominion Securities (established a year earlier by George Albertus Cox
), moving to London
in 1907. He caught the attention of Montagu Norman
, who made him a director of the Bank of England in 1921. Peacock later resigned from the Bank to become a partner of Barings Bank
, though he returned after the chief officer of Barings, Lord Revelstoke, died in 1929. During this time he was made a director of the Hudson's Bay Company
, as well as the Rhodes Trust.
Also in 1929, he was made Receiver General to the Duchy of Cornwall, which entailed dealing with the Royal finances. For these services, he was knighted by George V in 1934. He was Receiver General until the death of George VI in 1952.
Peacock was in Washington, D.C.
during World War II, liaising between the United States government and the Bank of England.
Just before the war, he and Montagu Norman were asked by Admiral John Henry Godfrey
of Naval Intelligence to find him a personal assistant. He found and recruited Ian Fleming
, who later wrote the James Bond
novels.
After a distinguished career, he retired to his estates near Ascot
. He died of natural causes in 1962, leaving a large amount of money to Queen's. Queen's honoured him by introducing the Sir Edward Peacock Professorship. David Haglund is the current Sir Edward Peacock Professor of Political Studies, James MacKinnon is the current Sir Edward Peacock Professor of Econometrics
, and Robin Boadway
is the Sir Edward Peacock Professor of Economic Theory.
Knight Bachelor
The rank of Knight Bachelor is a part of the British honours system. It is the most basic rank of a man who has been knighted by the monarch but not as a member of one of the organised Orders of Chivalry...
Edward Robert Peacock, GCVO (1871–1962) was a Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
merchant bank
Merchant bank
A merchant bank is a financial institution which provides capital to companies in the form of share ownership instead of loans. A merchant bank also provides advisory on corporate matters to the firms they lend to....
er, born in St. Elmo, Glengarry County
Glengarry County, Ontario
thumb|right|Glengarry located within OntarioGlengarry County , an area covering , is a county in the Canadian province of Ontario, and is historically known for its settlement of Scottish Highlanders due to the Highland Clearances.Glengarry was founded in 1792 by Scottish loyalists, mainly from...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
. He is perhaps best known as a director of the Bank of England
Bank of England
The Bank of England is the central bank of the United Kingdom and the model on which most modern central banks have been based. Established in 1694, it is the second oldest central bank in the world...
, or for his role as Receiver General
Receiver General
A Receiver General is an officer responsible for accepting payments on behalf of a government, and for making payments to a government on behalf of other parties. Receiver General is an alternative title for a Treasurer.-See also:...
to the Duchy of Cornwall
Duchy of Cornwall
The Duchy of Cornwall is one of two royal duchies in England, the other being the Duchy of Lancaster. The eldest son of the reigning British monarch inherits the duchy and title of Duke of Cornwall at the time of his birth, or of his parent's succession to the throne. If the monarch has no son, the...
.
Early life
Peacock's father was a CongregationalistCongregational church
Congregational churches are Protestant Christian churches practicing Congregationalist church governance, in which each congregation independently and autonomously runs its own affairs....
minister, who died shortly after he was born. His mother then moved to Almonte
Almonte, Ontario
Almonte is a Canadian exurb and former mill town located in Lanark County, in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario, Canada. Formerly a separate municipality, Almonte is now a ward of the town of Mississippi Mills, which was created on January 1, 1998 by the merging of Almonte with Ramsay and...
where he received his schooling. He went to Queen's University
Queen's University
Queen's University, , is a public research university located in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Founded on 16 October 1841, the university pre-dates the founding of Canada by 26 years. Queen's holds more more than of land throughout Ontario as well as Herstmonceux Castle in East Sussex, England...
, and under the tutelage of Adam Shortt
Adam Shortt
Adam Shortt, C.M.G. was an economic historian in Ontario. He was the first full-time employed academic in the field at a Canadian university — Queen's....
he studied Philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
and Political economy
Political economy
Political economy originally was the term for studying production, buying, and selling, and their relations with law, custom, and government, as well as with the distribution of national income and wealth, including through the budget process. Political economy originated in moral philosophy...
, graduating in 1894 with a gold and silver medal respectively.
Career
He began his career as teacher at Upper Canada CollegeUpper Canada College
Upper Canada College , located in midtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada, is an independent elementary and secondary school for boys between Senior Kindergarten and Grade Twelve, operating under the International Baccalaureate program. The secondary school segment is divided into ten houses; eight are...
. Then, in 1902, he left the teaching profession to work for the investment company Dominion Securities (established a year earlier by George Albertus Cox
George Albertus Cox
George Albertus Cox was a very prominent Canadian businessman and a member of the Canadian Senate.He was born in Colborne, Upper Canada in 1840. He began work as a telegraph operator for the Montreal Telegraph Company and became their agent in Peterborough, Ontario. In 1861, he became an agent for...
), moving to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in 1907. He caught the attention of Montagu Norman
Montagu Norman
Montagu Collet Norman, 1st Baron Norman DSO PC was an English banker, best known for his role as the Governor of the Bank of England from 1920 to 1944...
, who made him a director of the Bank of England in 1921. Peacock later resigned from the Bank to become a partner of Barings Bank
Barings Bank
Barings Bank was the oldest merchant bank in London until its collapse in 1995 after one of the bank's employees, Nick Leeson, lost £827 million due to speculative investing, primarily in futures contracts, at the bank's Singapore office.-History:-1762–1890:Barings Bank was founded in 1762 as the...
, though he returned after the chief officer of Barings, Lord Revelstoke, died in 1929. During this time he was made a director of the Hudson's Bay Company
Hudson's Bay Company
The Hudson's Bay Company , abbreviated HBC, or "The Bay" is the oldest commercial corporation in North America and one of the oldest in the world. A fur trading business for much of its existence, today Hudson's Bay Company owns and operates retail stores throughout Canada...
, as well as the Rhodes Trust.
Also in 1929, he was made Receiver General to the Duchy of Cornwall, which entailed dealing with the Royal finances. For these services, he was knighted by George V in 1934. He was Receiver General until the death of George VI in 1952.
Peacock was in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
during World War II, liaising between the United States government and the Bank of England.
Just before the war, he and Montagu Norman were asked by Admiral John Henry Godfrey
John Henry Godfrey
Admiral John Henry Godfrey CB was an officer of the Royal Navy and Royal Indian Navy, specializing in navigation....
of Naval Intelligence to find him a personal assistant. He found and recruited Ian Fleming
Ian Fleming
Ian Lancaster Fleming was a British author, journalist and Naval Intelligence Officer.Fleming is best known for creating the fictional British spy James Bond and for a series of twelve novels and nine short stories about the character, one of the biggest-selling series of fictional books of...
, who later wrote the James Bond
James Bond
James Bond, code name 007, is a fictional character created in 1953 by writer Ian Fleming, who featured him in twelve novels and two short story collections. There have been a six other authors who wrote authorised Bond novels or novelizations after Fleming's death in 1964: Kingsley Amis,...
novels.
Personal life
In 1909, he married Katherine (Kitty) Coates, who was the daughter of John Coates, founder of Turner & Coates Limited. Peacock was made Chairman of new John Coates and Company Limited. They had no children of their own, but adopted two daughters.After a distinguished career, he retired to his estates near Ascot
Ascot, Berkshire
Ascot is a village within the civil parish of Sunninghill and Ascot, in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, Berkshire, England. It is most notable as the location of Ascot Racecourse, home of the prestigious Royal Ascot meeting...
. He died of natural causes in 1962, leaving a large amount of money to Queen's. Queen's honoured him by introducing the Sir Edward Peacock Professorship. David Haglund is the current Sir Edward Peacock Professor of Political Studies, James MacKinnon is the current Sir Edward Peacock Professor of Econometrics
Econometrics
Econometrics has been defined as "the application of mathematics and statistical methods to economic data" and described as the branch of economics "that aims to give empirical content to economic relations." More precisely, it is "the quantitative analysis of actual economic phenomena based on...
, and Robin Boadway
Robin Boadway
Robin William Boadway, OC, FRSC is a Canadian economist. He holds the David Smith Chair at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario. He has taught at Queen's University since 1973...
is the Sir Edward Peacock Professor of Economic Theory.