Christopher Packe (politician)

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.

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.

[4] 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.

[11] He received orders from the Council on 3 July to prevent a meeting taking place "in the new meeting-house at Paul's" at which one John Biddle was to argue against the divinity of Jesus Christ.

[19] In September 1657 Packe appears as one of the committee of Parliament for farming the customs,[20] and on 25 March he was made, with Sir Thomas Vyner, treasurer of the fund for the relief of Protestant exiles from Poland and Bohemia.

In January 1655-6 Cromwell and his council proposed to send Packe, with Whitelocke, on an extraordinary embassy to the king of Sweden, so as "to manifest the engagement of the city in this business, and in it to put an honour upon them".

[21] Packe was a representative of the city in Cromwell's last parliament, summoned on 17 September 1656, and on 23 February 1657, although he was not the author,[22][23] he brought forward his celebrated "remonstrance", afterwards called the "Humble Petition and Advice", desiring the Protector to assume the title of king, and to restore the House of Lords.

Although was agreed to by the House of Commons,[24] Cromwell turned down the offer to become king possibly due to the pressure placed upon him by republicans in the army and Parliament.

[22][23] Instead a modified Humble Petition and Advice was accepted with Cromwell keeping the title of Lord Protector and able to nominate his successor, the creation of a second parliamentary chamber and triennial parliaments.

This clause was thrown out by the Lords on 1 August; but on the next day they resolved that sixteen persons, among whom Packe was included, should be disqualified from holding in future any public office or employment under penalty of being excepted from the act of pardon.

His interest at court, however, nearly availed him to procure a baronetcy for Christopher, his younger son, a grant for which was issued on 29 March 1666; but, for some unknown cause, the title was not actually conferred.