Peter Goelet was a merchant and real estate entrepreneur of New York City, the founder of a prominent New York family, descended from Huguenots of La Rochelle who escaped to Amsterdam. His grandfather, Jacobus, had been left an orphan in New York and was brought up in the family of Frederick Phillipse, the prominent merchant.
He was at first in partnership with Peter T. Curtenius, but from 1763 his place of business was Hanover Square, at the sign of the Golden Key. In 1755 he married Elizabeth Ratse, daughter of another prominent New York merchant. In May 1775 he was elected a member of the Committee of One Hundred and the Committee of Correspondence in support of the American patriots.
His son, Peter P. Goelet, added to his real estate holdings and had four children, Peter (1800—1879), Jean Buchanan (1802— ), Hannah, who married Capt. Thomas R. Gerry, USN, son of Elbridge Gerry, and Robert.