Basil Peto

Education and early life Born at Westminster, Peto was the seventh son of Sir Morton Peto, 1st Baronet. He entered Harrow School, but was withdrawn at the age of seventeen when his father experienced financial difficulties.

Career Peto became an apprentice joiner with his family's business, Peto Brothers, building contractors, of Pimlico. and married Mary Matilda Annie Baird in 1892. The couple had three sons. The company was dissolved in 1893 and Peto was financially ruined. He was made a Commander of the Order of Leopold by Albert I of Belgium. He found himself at odds with many of the policies of Stanley Baldwin's Conservative government, and lost the party whip to sit as an independent in April 1928. In June 1934 he announced that he would be retiring from parliament at the next general election, which was held in the following year.

Peto served as chairman of the National Society for the Prevention of Venereal Disease from 1926 – 1939.

Death Peto died at his home Iford Manor, near Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire in January 1945 aged 82. He was succeeded by his elder son, James Michael Peto (1894–1971). A younger son, Christopher Peto (1897–1980), succeeded his elder brother and also served as MP for Barnstaple.