Peter Lee Atherton (October 7, 1862 – January 13, 1939)[2] was an American businessman, property developer,[3] investor and politician[4] based in Louisville, Kentucky.

Atherton graduated from Louisville Male High School[2] and Georgetown College, Kentucky,[4] and went to work for his father, the owner of J.M.

[9] Atherton was a member of the Jackson Highway Association (1911–1918), following his father's direction on the need to build up Kentucky's overland transportation links, in order for the region to prosper and remain competitive.

He was active in the Democratic Party and vocal on many issues, including his views on the Temperance movement, against prohibition and the need to repeal the Eighteenth Amendment.

She was politically active and influential and is listed as Mrs. Peter Lee Atherton in the Principal Women of America (1936 Edition).

John M. Atherton (1918–1942),[22] a line officer on board USS Meredith (DD-434), torpedoed and sunk during the Asiatic-Pacific Theater of World War II on October 25, 1942.

His grandfather, his namesake Peter Lee Atherton (1771–1844) operated a small distillery on the banks of Rolling Fork River at Knob Creek for over thirty years from around 1790.

His paternal great-grandfather, Aaron Atherton (1745–1821), was part of a group of settlers who travelled through the Cumberland Gap, who arrived in the area now known as Kentucky in 1780.