Philip Packer


Philip Packer FRS was an English barrister and architect. He was a courtier to Charles II, and friend to Christopher Wren.
He was educated at University College, Oxford where he matriculated in 1635. He then took up law at the Middle Temple and was called to the bar as a barrister in 1647.
He rebuilt Groombridge Place with Wren's help in 1662. On 21 May 1669, he met with Samuel Pepys. He was an Original Fellow of the Royal Society.

Family

His parents were John Packer, Clerk of the Privy Seal, and Philippi Mills.
He married Isabella Berkeley in 1653 in Groombridge, Kent; they had seven children:
He married Sarah Isgar on 20 December 1666. Prior to their marriage, Philip and Sarah had three children in Ireland where Philip owned extensive properties: