Bradford Primitive Methodist, born at Dudley Hill, where his father was a miner. He began working at Albion Mills at the age of 7, attending Brierley Church School part-time. In 1887 he began his own woolcombing business, trading from 1890 as Abraham Peel Brothers Ltd. He was also a director of the London Fire-Proof Wall Co. and chairman of the Bradford Fire-Proof Wall Co. He was a Liberal councillor from 1897, alderman from 1904 and elected Lord Mayor in 1916. A member at Ebenezer, Dudley Hill PM chapel, he was a keen Band of Hope worker and aRechabite. He died in June 1919.