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British businessman (1830–1919) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Alexander Peckover, 1st Baron Peckover LL FRGS, FSA, FLS (16 August 1830 – 21 October 1919), was an English Quaker banker, philanthropist and collector of ancient manuscripts.
Alexander Peckover | |
|---|---|
Bank House (now Peckover House) in Wisbech, the seat of Lord Peckover | |
| Born | 16 August 1830 |
| Died | 21 October 1919 (aged 89) |
| Nationality | British |
| Occupation(s) | banker, philanthropist |
Peckover was born at Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, the son of Algernon Peckover, of Bank House, Wisbech, by Priscilla Alexander, daughter of Dykes Alexander, a Quaker banker, of Ipswich, Suffolk. Priscilla Hannah Peckover was his sister. He was educated at Grove House School, Tottenham, London.[1]
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]
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] Peckover was the first commoner and nonconformist to hold the office of Lord Lieutenant of Cambridgeshire. As a Quaker he was allowed to wear court dress instead of a military uniform and was not required to participate in military functions.[6] The following year he was raised to the peerage as Baron Peckover, of Wisbech in the County of Cambridge.[7] In 1905 Cambridge University awarded him the honorary degree of LL.D. [8] After his death part of the estates were sold off by auction at the Alexandra Theatre, Wisbech in 1920.[9]
Peckover married Eliza Sharples, daughter of Joseph Sharples, a banker, of Hitchin, Hertfordshire, in 1858. They had three daughters Elizabeth Josephine, Alexandrina and Anna Jane.[10] He is said to have declined the offer of a special remainder that would have allowed the title to descend through his eldest 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, they had four sons : Alexander Peckover, Lionel Sharples, Roland Algernon and Bernard Edmund.[11]
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.[12] In 1864 Peckover's father Algernon founded the Wisbech Social Club and Institute; with the aim of providing the industrial classes an educational and recreational facility.[13] 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.[10] Bank House became too small for the banking business and a new bank building was built nearby on the Old Market, this later became one of the two Barclays Bank branches in the town, the branch closed in 2022.[14] The ceremonial mace presented by Peckover to the Municipal Borough of Wisbech is still in use by the borough's successor Wisbech Town Council.[15] Roads in Wisbech are named Quaker Lane, Peckover Drive and Penrose Gardens after the baron and his family.
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