Sir Cheney Culpeper of Leeds Castle
1601-1663
Sir Cheney Culpeper's family origins were in Kent, and as an eldest son he
expected to inherit the large estate of his family. He trained as a lawyer,
with, amongst others, Sir Robert Honeywood, and was knighted in 1628. In the
late 1620's and early 1630's he became engaged in supporting the cause of
Continental Protestantism, through promoting the Palatinate and serving
Queen Elizabeth of Bohemia. This connection was probably instrumental in
leading him towards the circle of Samuel
Hartlib, in the early 1640's, of which he soon became an integral
member. In 1641 he was already helping to finance Hartlib's intellectual and
educational activities.
Throughout the 1640's, Culpeper's letters to Hartlib indicate his
sympathy with the diverse areas of reform and activity which engaged the
Hartlib circle. These included education and learning, exemplified by the
Office of Address, as well as technological innovation and scientific
experimentation. His contact with Benjamin
Worsley was mainly based on their shared interest in chemistry, alchemy,
and husbandry, all of which were aspects of Worsley's saltpetre project.
Worsley was in fact one of many innovators whom Culpeper was interested in,
one other prominent example being William Wheeler.
Culpeper's letters also contain much commentary and opinion on the
political events of the day. Culpeper was always on the side of parliament,
but throughout the 1640's his opinions became increasingly radical until he
came to adopt a strongly anti-monarchical outlook, which combined with his
distrust of episcopacy and presbyterianism to associate him clearly with the
'Independents'. However, like most others of this political leaning,
Culpeper was not a doctrinaire republican. He interpreted political events
in an apocalyptic sense that could encourage him to use rather extreme
language and imagery in his judgements. Unfortunately, Culpeper's support of
the parliamentarian cause in the 1640's and '50's caused him to be
disinherited, and he thus never attained the riches at one time he had
expected.
Although he was never became an active politician, like Worsley, he was
associated with the 1650 Council of Trade, of which he was a member along
with Sir Robert Honeywood. We have no record for his precise activities on
this body, but probably at this time Hartlib published an anonymous
discourse probably by Culpeper, attached to another pamphlet, supporting
William Potter's proposal for a land-bank, An Essay upon Master W.
Potters Designe. His longstanding interest in agricultural improvement
and technological innovation would also have been likely interests when on
the Council.
After the dissolution of the Council of Trade, Culpeper remained an
associate of Hartlib and his circle. Throughout the 1650's his main interest
seems to have been in agricultural issues, specifically innovations in
methods of husbandry. He never managed to regain his familial inheritance,
and died, indebted, in 1663.
Source: M. Braddick and M. Greengrass,
"Introduction" to "The Letters of Sir Cheney Culpeper,
1641-1657". Camden Miscellany XXXIII. (1996). pp. 105-150.
Last Updated: 21 Jun 2001
