Peachey, James

Person

Peachey, James

-24 Nov. 1797

James Peachey was a surveyor, draughtsman, army officer, and artist; probably of British origin; d. 24 Nov. 1797, likely in Martinique. On 3 Oct. 1787 Peachey obtained an ensign’s commission in the 60th Foot under Haldimand’s command. He arrived at Quebec in August 1788 to join the 1st battalion, then mustered at Niagara. By 1790 the 60th had moved to the Montreal region, and Peachey worked under Holland as a deputy provincial surveyor. He was required to amend earlier plans and surveys and to make new ones, including a survey of the rivers St Lawrence and Ottawa above Repentigny in 1793; some of these were compiled into larger plans. On 31 Oct. 1793 he was promoted lieutenant and transferred to the 7th Foot, then stationed at Quebec. A year later the regiment moved to Halifax and in 1795 returned to England. Peachey was made captain 29 July 1795 and transferred to the 43rd Foot on 2 Feb. 1797. His death that year was likely due to an epidemic which decimated the regiment while posted in Martinique.

Biographical sketch based on the article on James Peachey from the Dicionary of Canadian Biography, http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/peachey_james_4E.html (accessed 2022-03-23).