Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Peile, Thomas Williamson
PEILE, THOMAS WILLIAMSON (1806–1882), author and divine, eldest son of John Peile of Whitehaven, a justice of the peace for Cumberland, was born 10 Nov. 1806. He was educated under Dr. Butler at Shrewsbury, where he followed B. H. Kennedy as captain of the school, and in 1824 entered Trinity College, Cambridge. After gaining the Davies scholarship in his freshman's year, he graduated B.A. in 1828 as eighteenth wrangler and bracketed second in the first class of the classical tripos. He was also second chancellor's medallist. On 1 Oct. 1829 he was elected fellow of his college, and proceeded M.A. in 1831, and D.D. in 1843.
In 1829 Peile was appointed head-master of the Liverpool collegiate school, and in the same year was ordained by Bishop Sumner of Chester. In 1831 he became perpetual curate of St. Catherine's, Liverpool. In 1834 he removed to Durham to hold a tutorship in the newly constituted university. In 1836 he was appointed to the perpetual curacy of Croxdale, near Durham.
From 1841 to 1854 Peile was head-master of Repton school, when he was succeeded by Steuart Adolphus Pears [q. v.] Towards the close of 1857 he became vicar of Luton, Bedfordshire, a large and populous parish, which he began dividing into districts. But as the task proved too great for his strength, he removed in October 1860 to the newly formed parish of St. Paul, South Hampstead. This he held till 1873, when he resigned. He resided in the district till his death on 29 Nov. 1882.
Peile was a sound scholar, and his knowledge of the classics, especially Thucydides and the Greek Testament, was remarkable. His principal works were: 1. Editions of the ‘Agamemnon of Æschylus’ 1839, ‘Choephori,’ 1840. 2. ‘Annotations on the Apostolical Epistles,’ 4 vols. 1851–2. 3. ‘Sermons, doctrinal and didactic,’ 1868. 4. ‘Three Sermons on the Holy Communion,’ 1871.
In 1831 he married Mary, daughter of James Braithwaite, esq. (who died in 1806), and by her, who survived him till 1890, he left a numerous family. A portrait of Dr. Peile is in the hall of Repton school.
[Article in the Guardian, 6 Dec. 1882; information from the Rev. T. W. Peile, rector of Ashmore, Dorset; personal acquaintance.]