Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 44.djvu/152

 In 1855 he published a memoir of Dr. Thomas Young [q. v.], on which he had been engaged for more than twenty years. There appeared at the same time a collected edition of Dr. Young's works in three volumes, for the first two of which Peacock was responsible. This work, notwithstanding the long delay in its appearance, was warmly commended as a model of scientific biography.

Peacock's health had been failing for many years, but in 1848 he derived temporary benefit from a visit to Madeira. He died on 8 Nov. 1858, and was buried in the cemetery at Ely.

Peacock married, in 1847, Frances Elizabeth, second daughter of William Selwyn, Q.C. He left no children.

He was the author of the following works: 1. ‘Collection of Examples of the Applications of the Differential and Integral Calculus,’ Cambridge, 1820, 8vo. 2. ‘Arithmetic: Encyclopædia Metropolitana,’ 1825–6. 3. ‘A Treatise on Algebra,’ Cambridge, 1830, 8vo. 4. ‘Observations on the Plans for the New Library, &c. By a Member of the First Syndicate,’ Cambridge, 1831, 8vo. 5. ‘Remarks on the Replies to the Observations,’ &c., Cambridge, 1831, 8vo. 6. ‘Syllabus of a Course of Lectures upon Trigonometry, and the application of Algebra to Geometry,’ Cambridge, 1833, 8vo; 2nd edit. 1836. 7. ‘On the recent Progress of certain branches of Analysis’ (British Association Reports, 1834). 8. ‘Observations upon the Report made by a Syndicate appointed to confer with the architects who were desired to furnish … designs for a new library,’ Cambridge, 1835, 8vo. 9. ‘Remarks on the suggestions [of Standard Commission]. In a letter addressed to Mr. Airy 16 Jan. 1841.’ 10. ‘Remarks on the Decimal Nomenclature of Coins, Weights, and Measures, and other points connected with the subject,’ 24 Feb. 1841. 11. ‘A Treatise on Algebra,’ 2 vols. Cambridge, 1842–5, 8vo. 12. ‘Upon the Probable Influence of a Repeal of the Corn Laws upon the trade in Corn,’ London, 1846, 8vo. 13. ‘Some Observations upon the Episcopal and Capitular Estates Bill proposed by Lord Blandford 20 Dec. 1854,’ Cambridge, 1855, 8vo. 14. ‘Life of Thomas Young, M.D.,’ London, 1855, 8vo. 15. ‘Oratio habita in Camera Hierosolymitana Ecclesiæ Divi Petri Westmonasteriensis xiio Nov. 1852,’ Cambridge, 1859, 4to.

[Obituary notices of Royal Society, Proceedings, 1859, pp. 536–43; Gent. Mag. 1859, pp. 426–8; De Morgan's Arithmetical Books, pref.; Fraser's Magazine, 1858, pp. 741–6; Babbage's Passages from the Life of a Philosopher, London, 1864, p. 29; Edinb. Review, Oct. 1837, p. 114; Ball's History of the Study of Mathematics at Cambridge, 8vo, 1889, pp. 119–21, 124; personal knowledge.] 

PEACOCK, GEORGE (1805–1883), sea captain and shipowner, born in 1805 at Starcross, near Exeter, was son of Richard George Peacock, a master in the navy, who had served with Sir Alexander Cochrane [q. v.] in the West Indies, and with Thomas, lord Cochrane, afterwards tenth earl of Dundonald [q. v.] After the peace his father owned and commanded ships trading to the Mediterranean and Brazil, and young Peacock served his apprenticeship with him, rising gradually to command a ship on a voyage to the Pacific. In 1828 he entered the navy as second master of the steamer Echo, employed in surveying the lower Thames. In the next year he went out to the West Indies in the Winchester, and in March 1831 was appointed acting-master of the Magnificent, from which he exchanged into the Hyacinth as a sea-going ship. While in the Hyacinth he surveyed the harbour of San Juan de Nicaragua, his chart of which, with later corrections, is still in use. He also, in an official letter, pointed out the advantages of the route across the isthmus from San Juan, and recommended Colon, then known as Victor Cove, as a terminus for a railway. He seems to have persuaded himself that in this he made an original discovery; but the routes he recommended were known to the Spaniards from the earliest times, and in after years to Drake, Morgan, and the later buccaneers. On 21 Sept. 1835 Peacock was confirmed as master of the Medea steamer in the Mediterranean, and, while serving on the coast of Greece, made a survey of the isthmus of Corinth, marking the line of a possible canal. A copy of this he presented to the Greek government, in acknowledgment of which the king of Greece in 1882 conferred on him the order of the Redeemer of Greece; at the time, however, in 1836, King Otho, paying a visit to the Medea, presented Peacock with a gold snuffbox.

In 1838, being then master of the Andromache, Peacock surveyed and buoyed the harbours of Charlotte-town and Three-rivers in Prince Edward Island. In 1840 he applied to be appointed to the Blenheim, then going to China; his application was refused, and, being offered the command of the steamers of the newly constituted Pacific Steam Navigation Company, he resigned his warrant in the navy. He superintended the building and equipment of the steamers, and himself commanded the first that went out, which he took through the Strait of Magellan. For the next five years he acted as the company's