Peter Beverley

Peter Beverley (1663 – 1728) was an English-born planter and lawyer. He served as the 27th speaker of the House of Burgesses as well as treasurer of the Colony of Virginia (1710-1723) He was the first of three sons born to Major Robert Beverley, and the only one borne by his first wife, Elizabeth, since he was christened in the parish of St. Mary Lowgate on May 7, 1663. Peter Beverley also served as clerk before winning election as a Burgess and serving as speaker in four of the five assemblies at the beginning of the 18th century. In 1715, he was elected to represent the College of William and Mary (on the Board of Visitors to Gloucester County) in order to represent it rather than nearby William & Mary. However, after the Burgesses met, on August 13, 1715 upon the motion of Gawin Corbin, the House declared the College unworthy of a seat in the House and unseated Beverley. Beverley continued to act as the colony's Treasurer until 1723.