Peter Edgecumbe (died 1539)

Peter Edgecumbe (d. 1539) was a prominent Cornish landowner and Member of Parliament during the reign of King Henry VIII. He was a member of the ancient and influential Edgecumbe family of Mount Edgcumbe, Cornwall.

He served as Sheriff of Devon in 1525 and as a Member of Parliament for Tavistock in 1529. Edgecumbe was instrumental in suppressing the Cornish Rebellion of 1497 and was rewarded by the crown with lands. He also acquired significant property through the Dissolution of the Monasteries, specifically lands formerly belonging to Buckland Abbey, which became the family seat. His acquisition of Buckland Abbey solidified the Edgecumbe family's position as one of the leading gentry families in the region.

Peter Edgecumbe married Jane Derneford, daughter of Thomas Derneford. They had several children, including Richard Edgecumbe, who succeeded him. His descendants continued to play a significant role in Cornish and national affairs for centuries. Peter Edgecumbe's life reflects the significant social and political changes of the Tudor period, particularly the rise of gentry families through royal patronage and the opportunities presented by the Reformation.