Background
Peacock"s father was a Congregationalist minister who died shortly after Edward was born. His mother moved to Almonte, Ontario, where he received his schooling.
Peacock"s father was a Congregationalist minister who died shortly after Edward was born. His mother moved to Almonte, Ontario, where he received his schooling.
He attended Queen"s University in Kingston, and under the tutelage of Adam Shortt studied philosophy and political economy, graduating in 1894 with a gold and silver medal.
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, the principal property management arm of the Royal Family. He began his career as teacher at Upper Canada College. 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.
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.
Foreign 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, District of Columbia during World World War II, as a liaison 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 British Naval Intelligence to find a personal assistant for the admiral. He found and recruited Ian Fleming, who later wrote the James Bond novels.