Richard Peters (cleric)

Richard Peters (1704 – July 10, 1776), born in Liverpool, became an attorney, Anglican minister, and civil servant. In 1735 he emigrated to Pennsylvania, where he served in numerous posts for the Penn family, including on the Governor's Council from 1749 to 1775, and eventually became rector of Christ Church in Philadelphia.

Richard Peters was born in Liverpool, England, where his father, Ralph Peters, was an attorney and the Town Clerk. He was educated at Westminster School and continued at the Dutch University of Leyden for additional studies. He read law at the Middle Temple and became ordained in the Church of England. He later undertook further studies at Wadham College, Oxford.

Peters married a servant girl of Westminster. They later separated.

In 1734, believing that his first wife was dead, Peters remarried. A bigamy scandal arose when his first wife reappeared. The following year, he emigrated from Liverpool to exile in the colonies, settling in Philadelphia. His brother William Peters also immigrated to Philadelphia.

Peters became an assistant at Christ Church in Philadelphia, the major city of the Pennsylvania colony, and served there for two years. He directly worked for the Penn proprietary family as Secretary of the Land Office, Secretary of the Province and Clerk of the Council. He held these positions for a quarter of a century, and in 1749 was also appointed to the Governor's CouncilGovernor's Council member, serving until the Revolution.

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