Peck, John Murray (1830 - 1903)

Summary

John Murray Peck, in partnership with three other Americans, Freeman Cobb, John B. Lamber and James Swanton, began a coach service from Port Melbourne to Melbourne in 1853, expanding it in 1854 to include runs between Melbourne and Ballarat, Bendigo and Castlemaine. The business came to be known as Cobb and Co. Peck, an expert driver and horse-breaker, managed the road and acted as a relief driver.

Details

Born Lebanon, New Hampshire, USA, 26 January 1830. Died Lebanon, Pascoe Vale, Victoria, 19 November 1903. Wells, Fargo & Company; arrived Melbourne June 1853; founded Cobb & Co. with Freeman Cobb, James Swanton and John B. Lamber (qqv); partnership dissolved May 1856; to America 1856-58; formed Victorian Stage Co. 1858; managed the route for new owners 1860-62; auctioneer, Dal Campbell & Co., stock and station agents 1862-70; partnership with William Hudson and T.R. Raynor 1870-87; partnership with his son Harry - J.M.Peck & Son - from 1887. Mayor of the Borough of Essendon and Flemington 1872; first president, Associated Stock and Station Agents 1888.

Published resources

Book Sections

• Austin, K. A., 'Peck, John Murray (1830-1903), coachline proprietor and auctioneer' in Australian dictionary of biography, volume 5: 1851 - 1890 K-Q, Douglas Pike, ed. (Melbourne: Melbourne University Press, 1974), pp. 427-428. http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A050474b.htm. Details

Resources

• Wikidata, http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q21535660. Details
• 'Peck, John Murray (1830-1903)', Trove, National Library of Australia, 2009, https://nla.gov.au/nla.party-1467291. Details

See also

• Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering, Technology in Australia 1788-1988, Online edn, Australian Science and Technology Heritage Centre, Melbourne, 3 May 2000, http://www.austehc.unimelb.edu.au/tia/index_p.html. Details