Cheney Culpeper
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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

 

 
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