Morton Peto facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sir Samuel Morton Peto, Bt
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Historical photo of Morton Peto
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| Born | 4 August 1809 Woking, Surrey, England
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| Died | 13 November 1889 (aged 80) |
| Nationality | English |
| Occupation | Civil engineering contractor |
| Spouse(s) | Mary Grissell (four children) Sarah Ainsworth Kelsall (11 children) |
| Children | 15 |
Sir Samuel Morton Peto (born August 4, 1809 – died November 13, 1889) was a very important English businessman, engineer, and railway builder. For more than 20 years, he was also a Member of Parliament (MP), which means he helped make laws for the country.
He started his career building many famous places in London, like the Reform Club, The Lyceum, Nelson's Column, and even the new Houses of Parliament. These projects made him a millionaire. Later, he became one of the main people building the new railways that were growing very fast across Britain. He is also known as one of the people who helped start the Chartered Institute of Building in 1834.
Contents
Early Life and Learning to Build
Samuel Morton Peto, often called Morton Peto, was born on August 4, 1809, in Woking, Surrey. When he was young, he became an apprentice to his uncle, Henry Peto. An apprentice is someone who learns a skill or trade by working for an expert. Morton learned how to be a bricklayer in his uncle's building company in London.
Building London's Famous Places
When his uncle passed away in 1830, Morton Peto teamed up with his older cousin, Thomas Grissell. Their company, called Grissell and Peto, built many well-known buildings in London between 1830 and 1847.
Some of their amazing projects included:
- The Reform Club
- The Oxford & Cambridge Club
- The Lyceum Theatre
- St James's Theatre
- Hungerford Market at Charing Cross
They also built famous landmarks like Nelson's Column and the new Houses of Parliament (starting in 1843). They even worked on a huge project to build parts of the London brick sewer, which was very important for the city's health.
In 1848, they built the Bloomsbury Chapel, which was special because it was the first Baptist church in London with spires (tall, pointed towers). There's a story that an official didn't want to lease land to non-Church of England groups because their buildings often looked plain. Peto supposedly said, "A spire, my Lord? We shall have two!" And indeed, the church had twin spires until 1951.
Building Railways Across Britain
Morton Peto quickly saw how important the new railways would become. In 1834, he started a new business with his cousin Grissell, focusing only on building railways.
Their first railway job was to build two stations in Curzon Street, Birmingham. After that, they built their first railway line, which was part of the Great Western Railway. This included building the impressive Wharncliffe Viaduct, a large bridge-like structure.
Eventually, his cousin Grissell became worried about the big risks Peto was taking with these huge railway projects. So, in 1846, they ended their partnership.
Working with Edward Betts
In 1848, Peto formed a new partnership with Edward Betts, who was married to Peto's sister. Together, they worked on many railway projects. They often also teamed up with another famous builder, Thomas Brassey.
During the Crimean War in 1854, Peto, Betts, and Brassey built the Grand Crimean Central Railway. This railway was built very quickly between Balaklava and Sevastopol to carry supplies to soldiers fighting on the front lines. It was a huge help to the war effort.
Because of his important work during the war, the British government honored Peto in February 1855. He was made a Baronet, which is a special title. The King of Denmark also honored him for building railways in the Duchy of Schleswig, which helped trade grow with the port of Lowestoft in England. Another railway project abroad was the Homburg Railway in Germany, built from 1859 to 1860.
Unfortunately, the partnership of Peto and Betts faced serious financial problems in 1866. This was partly because a bank they worked with, Overend, Gurney and Company, failed. Their involvement with the London Chatham and Dover Railway also caused difficulties.
Other Important Activities
In 1844, Peto bought Somerleyton Hall in Suffolk. He rebuilt the hall and also built a school and more houses in the nearby village. He did similar projects in Lowestoft. For many years, he was one of the biggest employers in the world, meaning he gave jobs to more people than almost anyone else.
Morton Peto was also very involved in public life. He served as a Member of Parliament for about 20 years. He represented different areas, including Norwich (1847-1854), Finsbury (1859-1865), and Bristol (1865-1868).
He helped guarantee money for The Great Exhibition of 1851, a huge world's fair held in London. He supported Joseph Paxton's amazing design for The Crystal Palace, the building where the exhibition was held.
Even though he was made a baronet in 1855, his businesses ran into trouble in the 1860s. He had to sell Somerleyton Hall in 1863, and by 1866, he faced serious financial difficulties. His reputation as a trustworthy businessman was hurt and never fully recovered.
After leaving Parliament in 1868, he moved to Budapest for a time, trying to promote railways in Russia and Hungary. When he returned to England, he worked on the Cornwall Minerals Railway. However, this project also led to more financial losses for him.
Morton Peto passed away in 1889, not as famous as he once was.
Legacy and Remembrance
Even though he faced challenges later in life, Morton Peto left a lasting mark.
- A bust (a sculpture of his head and shoulders) of Peto can be seen at Norwich railway station.
- Roads have been named after him, such as Morton Peto Road in Great Yarmouth and Peto Way in Lowestoft.
- In Ashford, Kent, Samuel Peto Way is a residential road built where old railway workshops used to be.
- A portrait of Peto hangs at Regent's Park College, Oxford, because he helped the college move to its current location.
Family Life
Morton Peto was married twice and had many children. In May 1831, he married Mary Grissell, who was the sister of his business partner, Thomas Grissell. They had four children together before Mary passed away in 1842:
- Henry (1840–1938)
- Annie
- Sophia
- Mary
Later, Peto married Sarah Ainsworth Kelsall. Morton and Sarah had many more children, including:
- Morton Kelsall (born 1845)
- William Herbert (born 1849)
- Samuel Arthur (born 1852)
- Harold Ainsworth (1854–1933), who became a famous landscape architect.
- Frank Kelsall (born 1858)
- Basil Edward Peto (1862–1945), who also became a baronet later in his life.
- Sarah
- Maude
- Edith
- Emily
- Helen Agnes
