Christopher Crowe (diplomat)

Christopher Crowe (c. 1681 – 9 November 1749) was an English consul and landowner.

In 1705, aged 24, Crowe was appointed English Consul at Livorno, Grand Duchy of Tuscany.[1] He was awarded the "lucrative" contract to supply the British Mediterranean fleet with wine and olive oil during the War of the Spanish Succession, from 1703 to 1711.[1]

He also worked as a prize agent for captured enemy merchant ships, and acquired artworks on behalf of the English nobility, and grew rich.[1]

In 1707, he bought Woodford Hall, a large house and estate in Woodford, Essex, adjacent to Epping Forest from Sir Richard Child.[2]

In 1715, he married Charlotte Lee, Lady Baltimore who had been married to Benedict Leonard Calvert, 4th Baron Baltimore, and they had four children:[3]

  • Christopher Crowe (1716–1776)
  • Catherine Crowe (1717 – 1782)
  • Charlotte Crowe (1718–1742)
  • George Crowe (25 November 1719 – 10 October 1782)

In 1722, he bought Kiplin Hall for £7000 from his stepson, Charles Calvert. [4]

In 1728, he sold Woodford Hall to William Hunt in 1727, having obtained a private act of Parliament, Crowe's Estate Act 1727 (1 Geo. 2. St. 2. c. 8 Pr.), to do so.[2][5]

References

  1. ^ a b c "The Crowes – Kiplin Hall". www.kiplinhall.co.uk. Archived from the original on 7 September 2012. Retrieved 23 September 2018.
  2. ^ a b "Woodford: Manors - British History Online". www.british-history.ac.uk. Retrieved 23 September 2018.
  3. ^ "Descendants of George Crow" (PDF). Kiplin Hall History. Kiplin Hall. Retrieved January 20, 2026.
  4. ^ "Kiplin Hall Owners" (PDF). Kiplin Hall History. Kiplin Hall. Retrieved January 20, 2026.
  5. ^ Archives, The National. "The Discovery Service". discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk. Retrieved 23 September 2018.
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