▁was ▁a ▁British ▁business man ▁who ▁became ▁the ▁Chair man ▁of ▁the ▁East ▁India ▁Company ▁in ▁ 1 7 1 4 ▁and ▁Lord ▁Mayor ▁of ▁London ▁in ▁ 1 7 1 5 . ▁He ▁had ▁previously ▁served ▁as ▁one ▁of ▁the ▁Sher iffs ▁of ▁the ▁City ▁of ▁London ▁in ▁ 1 7 0 8 – 1 7 0 9 . ▁ ▁Biography ▁Pe ers ▁was ▁born ▁to ▁Edmund ▁Pe ers ▁( d . ▁ 1 6 8 1 ) ▁and ▁Mary ▁Wal den , ▁in ▁ 1 6 6 1 , ▁of ▁the ▁parish ▁of ▁the ▁St . ▁K atherine ▁C ree ch urch , ▁Ald gate ▁w ard , ▁London . ▁He ▁started ▁his ▁career ▁as ▁a ▁sal ter ▁( tr ader ▁of ▁salt ) ▁and ▁also ▁as ▁the ▁London ▁partner ▁of ▁William ▁Mor ley ▁and ▁Company ▁of ▁M ál aga , ▁mer ch ants ▁and ▁im por ters . ▁He ▁later ▁became ▁Common ▁Council man ▁for ▁Ald gate ▁Ward ▁ 1 7 0 1 – 8 , ▁and ▁Ald erman ▁of ▁Tower ▁Ward ▁ 1 7 0 8 – 3 7 . ▁ ▁He ▁was ▁a ▁Director ▁of ▁the ▁Bank ▁of ▁England ▁in ▁ 1 7 0 5 - 0 7 ▁and ▁ 1 7 0 8 - 1 2 , ▁a ▁Director ▁ ▁of ▁the ▁New ▁East ▁India ▁Company ▁in ▁ 1 7 0 1 - 0 5 ▁and ▁ 1 7 0 6 - 0 9 ▁and ▁a ▁Director ▁of ▁the ▁United ▁East ▁India ▁Company ▁in ▁ 1 7