Charles Peat facts for kids

Charles Urie Peat (born February 28, 1892 – died October 27, 1979) was a British politician and a talented cricketer. He belonged to the Conservative Party, one of the main political groups in the United Kingdom. His father, William Barclay Peat, started a big international accounting company called KPMG.

Early Life and Cricket

Charles Peat was born in Edmonton, Middlesex. He went to Sedbergh School and later studied at Trinity College, Oxford.

He loved cricket and was a skilled player. He played what is called first-class cricket for several teams:

• For Oxford University in 1913.
• For Middlesex in 1914.
• For the Free Foresters between 1920 and 1922.
• He also played in matches for a special team called HDG Leveson-Gower's XI.

Military Service

During World War I, Charles Peat joined the army. He became an officer in the City of London Yeomanry. For his bravery and service, he was awarded the Military Cross, which is a special medal.

Political Career

In 1931, Charles Peat became a Member of Parliament (MP) for Darlington. An MP is a person elected to represent a group of people in the country's parliament, helping to make laws and decisions. He won against the MP from the Labour Party who was in office at the time. While he was an MP for Darlington, he lived nearby at Wycliffe Hall.

Working with Winston Churchill

During World War II, Charles Peat had a very important job. He worked as the Principal Private Secretary for Prime Minister Winston Churchill. This meant he was one of Churchill's closest assistants, helping him with many important tasks during the war.

In 1943, he led a special effort to help the country during the war. He organized a campaign to collect 100 million books to help the war effort. This showed his dedication to his country.

After the War

Charles Peat was also an accountant by profession. From March to June 1945, he served as the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Insurance. This role involved helping with important government policies related to social support.

In the 1945 general election, he lost his seat in Parliament to a Labour Party candidate. He passed away in Barnard Castle, County Durham, on October 27, 1979.

Family Connection to Cricket

Charles Peat's grandson, Benjamin Usher, also played cricket. He played List A cricket for British Universities and the Durham Cricket Board. He also played Minor counties cricket for Northumberland.