Christopher Packe (politician)

Sir Christopher Packe (1593? – 1682), Lord Mayor of London; member of the Drapers Company; lord mayor, 1654; a prominent member of the Company of Merchant Adventurers; knighted and appointed an admiralty commissioner, 1655; a strong partisan of Oliver Cromwell, proposing on 23 February 1656, in the Protector's last Parliament, a Remonstrance (which became known as the "Humble Petition and Advice") which initially proposed that Cromwell should assume the title of king. He was disqualified at the restoration of the monarchy from holding any public office.

Christopher Packe was son of Thomas Packe of Kettering or Grafton, Northamptonshire, and Catherine his wife, was born about 1593. He seems to have been apprenticed at an early age to one John Kendrick, who died in 1624, and left him a legacy of £100. Packe married a kinswoman of his master Kendrick, set up in business in the woollen trade on his own account, and soon amassed a large fortune. He was an influential member of the Drapers' Company, of which he became a freeman, and he served the office of master in 1648. On 9 October 1646, by an ordinance of parliament, he was appointed a trustee for applying the bishops' lands to the use of the Commonwealth.

His connection with municipal affairs began on 4 October 1647, when he was elected alderman of Cripplegate ward. On midsummer day 1649 he was chosen one of the sheriffs of London and Middlesex, and on 2 October following was elected alderman of Cornhill, but declined to desert Cripplegate ward. His wealth, ability, and zeal for the parliamentary cause soon brought him extensive public employment.

In 1649, and perhaps earlier, he was one of the commissioners of customs. He was also a prominent member, and subsequently governor, of the Company of Merchant Adventurers, and probably on this account was frequently appointed, with other aldermen, to advise the council in commercial controversies. According to Thomas Burton's 'Diary' (1828, i. 308-10), Packe fought hard at the meeting of the committee of trade on 6 January 1656-7 for the monopoly of the Merchants Adventurers (of which he was then governor) in the woollen trade. The committee, however, decided against him.

In 1654 he was one of the treasurers (with Alderman Vyner) of the fund collected for the relief of the Protestants in Piedmont. This involved him in considerable trouble. The money was kept back for several years; various instructions were given him by the council for its disposal, and nearly £8,000 of the amount was lent by the treasurers to public bodies. Ultimately the matter came before the House of Commons, which resolved, on 11 May 1660, that the money should be paid to the treasurers by £2,000 monthly from the excise, the house also "declaring" detestation of any diversion of the money. Packe was also one of the city militia, and treasurer at Avar, receiving in the latter capacity threepence in the pound on all contributions received or paid by him.

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