Peacock, William (1750-1782)

Irish naval officer who perpetrated a hoax on Franklin.

Entered the British navy (c. 1763); lieutenant (1771). Served throughout the Revolutionary War. Landed an English sloop at Dieppe (November 1778); posing as “Job Prince,” master of the Continental sloop Concord, Peacock exchanged letters with Franklin and obtained provisions from Le Baron, the American agent in Dieppe.