John Peddie was a soldier who entered the British army as an ensign in the 38th Foot in 1805. He became a lieutenant in 1807, fought in Portugal and Spain, and in July 1812 lost an arm in the battle of Salamanca, Spain. He was promoted to captain on half pay in 1813 but brought back to full pay in the 97th Foot in 1824. In 1825 he attained the rank of major, and became lieutenant-colonel of the 31st Foot in 1830 and of the 72nd Highlanders in 1832.
From 1828 Peddie was stationed in South Africa. During the Sixth Frontier War in March 1835 he marched into British Kaffraria (the region between the Keiskamma and Kei Rivers) and the next month penetrated the stronghold of the Xhosa, capturing several thousand head of cattle. He established Fort Peddie as a British frontier post in the territory and the town that later developed there still carries his name.
During his time in South Africa Peddie sent plants to William Harvey* at Dublin, among them an evergreen shrub from Port Natal (now Durban) on which Harvey based the genus Peddiea (Family Thymelaeceae). However, there is no evidence that Peddie was ever in Natal, hence this and other Natal plants may have been collected, perhaps at Peddie's request, by a soldier in his regiment, Thomas Willliamson*, who took part in the military occupation of the territory during 1838-1839.
Peddie changed into the 90th regiment, then stationed in Ceylon, in February 1838. He retired in July 1840 and died in Ceylon later that year.
