Peyton Short (December 17, 1761 – September 1, 1825) was an American land speculator and politician in Kentucky.

[2] He followed his brother to The College of William and Mary where he was a member of Phi Beta Kappa Society.

[3] The society was struggling to retain membership, and Short was frequently absent from meetings with poor or no excuse given.

Because of a scarcity of money in the family, they defied their father's request to immediately pay off all debts and instead decided to hold the majority of his assets for later investment.

While there, he became acquainted with Rachel Donelson Robards, who would eventually become the wife of President Andrew Jackson.

[8] While there, he was invited to become a member of the Danville Political Club, a debating society that was active in that city from 1786 to 1790.

[10] Short took an active part in the early political and economic life of Kentucky.

He voted in the minority against elevating Harry Toulmin, a Unitarian, to the presidency of the historically Presbyterian institution.

Short, Caleb Wallace, and Christopher Greenup resigned their positions on the board in protest.

[1] Short engaged in land speculation and incurred severe financial losses.