10 Facts About Jonathan Peel

Jonathan Peel, PC was a British soldier, Conservative politician and racehorse owner.

Jonathan Peel was commissioned into the Rifle Brigade as a 2nd Lieutenant in June 1815.

Jonathan Peel served as a lieutenant in the 71st Highlanders from 1819 to 1821 and in the Grenadier Guards from 1822 to 1825, as a Major in the 69th Foot from 1826 to 1827, as a Lieutenant-Colonel in the 53rd Foot in 1827, when he was placed on half-pay.

Jonathan Peel was promoted to brevet Colonel in 1841, to Major-General in 1854 and to Lieutenant-General in 1859.

Jonathan Peel lost this seat in 1830 but returned to Parliament the following year as one of two representatives for Huntingdon, a seat he held until 1868.

Jonathan Peel served under his brother as Surveyor-General of the Ordnance from 1841 to 1846 and was Secretary of State for War under the Earl of Derby between 1858 and 1859 and 1866 and 1867.

Jonathan Peel had been admitted to the Privy Council in 1858.

Apart from his military and political career Jonathan Peel was an owner of racehorses, and in 1844 his horse Orlando won the Derby, after another horse, Running Rein, had been disqualified.

Jonathan Peel married, on 19 March 1824, Lady Alice Jane, youngest daughter of Archibald Kennedy, first Marquis of Ailsa, by whom he had eight children, five sons and three daughters.

Jonathan Peel died on 13 February 1879, aged 79, at his home, Marble Hill House, Twickenham, Middlesex, and was buried in Twickenham new cemetery on 19 February.