PEACH, Samuel (1725-90), of Minchinhampton, Glos.

Peach was a silk merchant in London, and a partner in the banking firm of Peach, Fowler and Co.; he was responsible, among others, for prosecuting Dr. Dodd, and incurred some unpopularity because of it.A Letter to Messrs. Fletcher and Peach of the City of London, 1777. On a vacancy at Cricklade in December 1774 Peach stood on the interest of Arnold Nesbitt. The election resulted in a double return of Peach and John Dewar and was declared void. At the subsequent election, in March 1775, Peach was opposed by Dewar and Samuel Petrie. With considerable assistance from the returning officer, Peach was returned at the head of the poll, but was unseated on petition.

In 1780, Peach contested Hindon jointly with John Saunders, another London merchant, against the combined Beckford and Calthorpe interests, but was ignominiously defeated. In 1781 he went bankrupt.Gent. Mag. 1781, p. 492; PRO, Bankruptcy Order Bks. 30 July 1781.

Peach died 14 Dec. 1790.