An important political ally of Adlai E. Stevenson I, Peabody was considered as the vice presidential candidate of the Democratic Party in 1912.

During World War I, Peabody was the chairman of the Coal Production Committee of the Council of National Defense and was assistant to the director of the Bureau of Mines.

His primary vision was for a local governing body that was focused on caddy welfare and conducting amateur golf tournaments throughout the Midwest.

Only a year after Mayslake Hall was completed, Francis Peabody died of a heart attack during a fox hunt on his property.

"[10] In 1919 Francis Peabody began purchasing racehorses for the purpose of creating a stable of runners to compete in the sport of Thoroughbred racing.

[12] The Francis S. Peabody Memorial Handicap was created in his honor at Washington Park Race Track with the inaugural running on June 29, 1929.