Peter Godfrey was born to William Simpson Godfrey and Marian Clifford (Angell) Godfrey. The Godfreys lived at "Woodforde" in Ardmore, Pennsylvania. Peter’s father was president of William Simpson Sons & Co., cotton merchants. Peter graduated from Harvard in 1948, a member of Hasty Pudding. He married Margaret Katherine Meister (1930-2003), daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Carl J. Meister on May 31, 1952 in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania.
Peter was president of Menley & James the Philadelphia cosmetics manufacturer, a subsidiary of SmithKline & French Laboratories. SmithKline & French are notable for products such as Thorazine, Compazine, Dexedrine, Eskatrol, and Contac cold capsules. The Godfreys lived in Villanova, Pennsylvania and summered at “Stoney Point” on Sargent Head in Northeast Harbor. Besides sailing Peter helped to save the Asticou Inn in Northeast Harbor from decay and was a supporter of the Northeast Harbor Library.
