Morgan Scott Peck (1936–2005) was an American psychiatrist and best-selling author, renowned for his book The Road Less Traveled, published in 1978. Born in New York City, he was the younger of two sons to David Warner Peck, a prominent lawyer and jurist, and Elizabeth Saville. In 1959, he married Lily Ho, with whom he had three children.

Peck received his B.A. degree magna cum laude from Harvard College in 1958, and his M.D. degree from the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in 1963. His service in the United States Army from 1963 until 1972 included resigning from the position of Assistant Chief Psychiatry and Neurology Consultant to the Surgeon General of the Army with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and the Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster. From 1972 to 1983, Peck engaged in the private practice of psychiatry in Litchfield County.