George Campbell Peery was born on October 28. 1873 at Cedar Bluff in Tazewell County. He attended public schools and graduated from Emory and Henry College. For two years, Peery was principal of Tazewell High School. In 1897, he graduated from the Law Department of Washington and Lee University and was immediately admitted to the bar. He began practicing law in Tazewell County.

Peery was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in both 1920 and 1924. During World War I, he served as the local food administrator for Tazewell County. From 1923-1929, he was elected to the 68th, 69th, and 70th Congresses. In 1934, George C. Peery was elected Governor of Virginia. During his term, he put trial justices in every county, established unemployment insurance, created the Alcholic Beverage Control Board when prohibition was repealed, and rpesided over the opening of the first six Virginia State Parks.