Alexander Peckover, 1st Baron Peckover

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Alexander Peckover
Peckover House 1.jpg
Bank House (now Peckover House) in Wisbech, the seat of Lord Peckover
Born16 August 1830
Wisbech, Cambridgeshire
Died21 October 1919
NationalityBritish
Occupationbanker, philanthropist

Alexander Peckover, 1st Baron Peckover FRGS, FSA, FLS (16 August 1830 – 21 October 1919), was an English Quaker banker, philanthropist and collector of ancient manuscripts.

Early years[]

Peckover was born at Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, the son of Algernon Peckover, of Bank House, Wisbech, by Priscilla Alexander, daughter of Dykes Alexander, a banker, of Ipswich, Suffolk. He was educated at Grove House School, Tottenham, London.[1]

Career[]

The Peckovers were a Quaker banking family and owners of the Peckover Bank, which later merged into Gurney, Peckover and Company, he started as a clerk in 1847 and worked his way up and became a partner in 1866 Retiring in 1894.[1][2] His sister Priscilla Hannah Peckover was a pacifist and linguist.[3] Peckover was also an active peace campaigner, chairing annual meetings of the Wisbech Local Peace Association.[4]

Retirement[]

In his retirement he devoted himself mainly to meteorological studies and the collection of ancient manuscripts.[5] He was a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, the Society of Antiquaries and the Linnean Society of London[1] and a member of the Hakluyt Society, Spalding Gentlemen's Society and the British Numismatic Society. In 1893, he was appointed Lord-Lieutenant of Cambridgeshire, a post he held until 1906.[1] The following year he was raised to the peerage as Baron Peckover, of Wisbech in the County of Cambridge.[6] After his death part of the estates were sold off by auction at the Alexandra Theatre, Wisbech in 1920. [7]

Family[]

Peckover married Eliza Sharples, daughter of Joseph Sharples, a banker, of Hitchin, Hertfordshire, in 1858. They had three daughters Elizabeth, Alexandrina and Anna Jane. [8] He is said to have declined the offer of a special remainder that would have allowed the title to descend through his daughter to his grandson, stating that "if my grandson wants the title he must earn it".[5] Eliza died in August 1862, only a year after the birth of her youngest child. Lord Peckover remained a widower until his death in October 1919, aged 89. His title died with him.[1] His daughter Elizabeth married the artist J. Doyle Penrose.

Legacy[]

Bank House (now Peckover House and Garden) is now a National Trust property, the estate is let to local sports clubs, Wisbech Rugby Union Club, Hockey and Cricket clubs. Nearby is Peckover Primary school.[9] In 1864 second son Algernon founded the Wisbech Social Club and Institute; with the aim of providing the industrial classes an educational and recreational facility.[10] In 1864 a group of gentleman banking friends including the Barclay brothers took Peckover on a Grand Tour of Egypt to ease his broken heart after the death of his young wife. Some of the objects he brought back are now in the Wisbech & Fenland Museum.[11] Roads in Wisbech are named Quaker Lane, Peckover Drive and Penrose Gardens after the baron and his family.

References[]

  1. ^ a b c d e thepeerage.com Alexander Peckover, 1st and last Baron Peckover
  2. ^ Day-Coombes, Molly (2019). "The life and work of Alexander Peckover". The Fens - Wisbech & Surrounding. 19: 12–13.
  3. ^ "Peckover, Priscilla Hannah". Det Danske Fredsakademi. Retrieved 2015-03-14.
  4. ^ "Peace Association". Stamford Mercury. 10 December 1897. p. 6.
  5. ^ a b The New York Times: "Lord Peckover died at 89."
  6. ^ "No. 28043". The London Gazette. 23 July 1907. p. 5029.
  7. ^ "Property Sale". Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer. 27 July 1920. p. 10.
  8. ^ "Lost Love". www.wisbechmuseum.org.uk. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
  9. ^ "Peckover Primary Scool". www.peckoverprimary.org. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
  10. ^ "The Peckovers". www.wisbech-society.co.uk. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
  11. ^ "Lost Love". www.wisbechmuseum.org.uk. Retrieved 30 March 2021.

External links[]

Honorary titles
Preceded by
 Lord-Lieutenant of Cambridgeshire
1893–1907 		Succeeded by
Peerage of the United Kingdom
New creation Baron Peckover
1907–1919 		Extinct
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