Francis Peabody

Francis Peabody Jr. (September 1, 1854 – February 9, 1938) was an American lawyer, sportsman, businessman and political figure.

Early life Peabody was a member of the Peabody family, which had resided in Essex County, Massachusetts, since 1635. Peabody was born in Salem, Massachusetts, on September 1, 1854.

Peabody was educated at private schools in Salem. In 1896, he turned over control of the team to R. C. Lehmann, a noted English rowing coach that Peabody knew from his time in the country.

Peabody was a founder of The Country Club, Myopia Hunt Club, Nahant Club, and Norfolk Hunt Club. He was president of the Norfolk Hunt Club for 25 years. Peabody purchased the Forbes stock farm in Canton, Massachusetts, and bred thoroughbred Show hunters. Peabody's insistence led to the Suffolk County District Attorney's office prosecuting Iasigi, who was charged with embezzling about $220,000. Iasigi was found guilty and spent 11 ½ years in prison before receiving a pardon from Eben Sumner Draper.

In 1900, Peabody formed a law firm with Edmund K. Arnold. In 1909 the firm became Peabody, Arnold, Batchelder, & Luther. John Lawrence married Peabody's sister, Martha.

Politics In 1891, Peabody joined Governor William E. Russell's staff as an aide-de-camp. He was later promoted to the position of judge advocate general. On November 9, 1894, Peabody stated that "in no sense am I seeking [the Democratic nomination], for I have no desire to relinquish my law business”. At the city convention on November 16, Peabody's name was put in nomination by Senator-elect Joseph J. Corbett, who gave an eloquent speech in favor of Peabody. His nomination was seconded by Robert Treat Paine Jr. Peabody was chosen over the only other candidate, Congressman Joseph H. O'Neil, 180 votes to 77 votes. On November 28, Peabody accepted the nomination. Peabody lost the 1894 Boston mayoral election to Republican Edwin Upton Curtis by about 2,500 votes.

In 1896, Peabody broke with the Democratic Party and voted for Republican presidential candidate William McKinley. He did not return to Democratic politics until 1928, when he became chairman of the Massachusetts Lawyers for Smith Committee. Peabody backed Al Smith over Herbert Hoover due to Smith's opposition to Prohibition. He also supported the Democrats' 1932 presidential nominee, Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Business Peabody was very involved in real estate and spent several years as the president of the Boston Real Estate exchange. He was predeceased by his wife, who died on June 8, 1935.