PETO

Sir Samuel Morton , 1 Baronet (eld. son of Wm. Peto of Cookham, Berks hire 1768–1849). b. Whitmoor house, Woking, Surrey, 4 Aug. 1809; apprenticed to his uncle Henry Peto, builder, who d. 1830 leaving his busine to his nephews, Thomas Gri ell and S. M. Peto, they di olved partnership 2 March 1846, having constructed the Hunger ford market 1832–3, Lyceum theatre 1834, St. James’s theatre 1835, Reform club 1836, Conservative club 1840, Great Western railway works between Hanwell and Langley 1840, the Nelson column 1843, and a large part of the South Eastern railway 1844; partner with Edward Ladd Betts 1846–72, they constructed the loop line of the Great Northern railway from Peter borough to Don caster, the Oxford, Worcester and Wolver hampton railway 1852, the Oxford and Birmingham railway, the Victoria docks, London 1852–5, and the Norwegian Grand Trunk railway; constructed with Thomas Bra ey and E. L. Betts railway lines in Australia 1858–63, the Grand Trunk railway of Canada, the Jutland and Schleswig lines 1852, and the London, Tilbury and South end railway 1852; paid for the building of Blooms bury baptist chapel; purchased the Diorama in Regent’s park 1855 and converted it into a baptist chapel; M.P. Norwich 1847–54, M.P. Finsbury 1859–65, and M.P. Bristol 1865–8; obtained pa ing of Peto’s act 13 and 14 Vict. cap. 28, 1850, which simplified titles by which religious bodies hold property; A.I.C.E. 26 Feb. 1839; deputy chairman of metropolitan comrs. of sewers 1 Sept. 1851; constructed a railway line, 39 miles long, between Balaklava and the entrenchments 1854–5; created baronet 14 Feb. 1855; presented with a service of plate for making East Suffolk railway 18 July 1860; Peto and Betts suspended payment 11 May 1866 with liabilities of four millions and a ets estimated at five millions; author of Divine support in death 1842; Observations on the report of the defence commi ioners 1862; Taxation, its levy and expenditure, past and future 1863; The resources and prospects of America, ascertained during a visit to the states 1866. d. Black hurst, Tun bridge Wells 13 Nov. 1889. bur. Pembury. Sir Morton Peto, a memorial sketch (1893) 2 portraits ; Min. of proc. of Instit. of C.E. xcix 400–3 (1890); I.L.N. xviii 105–6 (1851) portrait , xxx 24–6 (1857) three views of his residence, Somerleyton, Suffolk , xxxvii 147 (1860) view of service of plate ; Eclectic mag. lxvi 381 (1878) portrait .