Peter Piper is a character from a popular nursery rhyme, 'Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers'. The rhyme is believed to have originated in England in the early 19th century. Peter Piper is also the name of a fictional character in the book series, 'The Pied Piper of Hamelin' by Robert Browning. In the story, the Pied Piper of Hamelin is a rat-catcher who uses his magical pipe to lure rats away from the town of Hamelin. He is later hired by the townspeople to rid the town of its children, who he leads away with his music.