Gilbert Peterson (August 5, 1824 - November 14, 1890), was an American contractor from Lockport, New York. He was the founder and President of Peterson & Sons, which he ran with his two sons, Charles Gilbert Peterson and Jesse Peterson. The company executed contracts building the waterworks of Toledo, Ohio; Grand Rapids, Michigan; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; part of the Genesee Valley Canal Railroad^[1] and worked on multiple reservoirs in the Washington, D.C., area.^[2][3] Previously he was a partner at Hunt, Peterson & Kinsley, responsible for enlarging Erie Canal between Middleport, New York, and Gasport, New York, in 1855, and canal repairs in Albany, New York, Frankfort, New York, and Kilburn Hill, New York.^[4] Peterson was superintendent of both the eastern and western divisions of the Erie Canal, and in 1867–1868 he was alderman of the 2nd Ward of Lockport, New York.^[5]

He is the great grandfather of Charles Sterling Bunnell.