Peck was born in New York City and pursued classical studies, attending Yale College and studying law in New York City. He moved to Michigan in 1839 and settled in Brighton, where he was admitted to the bar in 1842 and commenced practice there in the same year. He was a member of the Michigan State House of Representatives in 1846 and 1847 and served as speaker the last term. He moved to Lansing, when the state capital was located there in 1847. He was the first postmaster of Lansing and was Michigan Secretary of State from 1848 to 1849. He was editor and proprietor of the Lansing Journal and the state printer 1852-1855. He was elected as a Democrat to the Thirty-fourth Congress, serving from March 4, 1855, to March 3, 1857, representing Michigan's 4th congressional district. He was unsuccessful in seeking reelection in 1856.
As a Freemason, Peck was first active in Detroit Lodge No. 2 (Detroit, Mich.), being therein initiated 11 Feb 1846, passed 25 Feb 1846, and raised 17 Mar 1846. He would then over the years become a member of Lansing Lodge No. 33 (Lansing, Mich.), Brighton Lodge No. 42 (Brighton, Mich.), Capitol Lodge of Strict Observance No. 66 (Lansing, Mich.). He served for two terms as Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Michigan, first elected on 12 Jan 1854, and then re-elected in Jan 1855.[1]
^Grand Lodge of the State of Michigan. Transactions of the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons, of the State of Michigan, at its annual communication. 1895, pp. 278-283. Available: https://archive.org/details/transactionsofgr00free
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