Christopher Crowe (c.1681 – 9 November 1749), was an English consul and landowner.
In 1705, aged 24, Crowe was appointed British Consul at Livorno, Italy.[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 five children.[1]
In 1728, he sold Woodford Hall to William Hunt in 1727, having obtained a private Act of Parliament (1 Geo. 2. St. 2. c. 8) to do so.[2] [3]