Additional information on Charles W. Peach (1800-1886)

Abstract

An earlier paper by the authors, on Charles William Peach (1800-1886), notable marine biologist and geologist, is extended and corrected in the light of new information. Peach's family origins and those of his wife are clarified, and information on their children extended. His religious affiliation is identified as Unitarian, helping to explain hitherto anomalous information such as Peach's collecting fossils on a Sunday. Unitarians tended to support science, and their role deserves more attention in the history of 19th Century geological collections, as does Sabbatarianism, which they opposed. Peach made no geological mark in his brief stay at Lyme Regis and his first real impact was in Cornwall. Another notable Cornish naturalist, Jonathan Couch (1789-1870), wrote a private assessment of Peach about 1850, which is republished here. It throws light on Peach as well as on tensions over the discovery and identification of local fossils. Further evidence for Peach's ability to deploy patronage includes a collection sent to Prince Albert, a bequest from his patron Roderick Impey Murchison, and an appeal made to support Peach's daughter Jemima after Peach died. A summary is given of other relevant information, including the presence of Peach specimens in the collection of Hugh Miller (1802-1856), now in National Museums Scotland, and in the Natural History Museum, London, and comments on archaeological and zoological specimens, and his reputed custody of 'Granny' the septuagenarian sea anemone. Further collections research is needed to understand the full extent and evolution of Peach's collection and his labelling practices, which might have evolved in response to the needs of the Geological Survey.