Peter Charles Larkin

Who was Peter Charles Larkin?

Peter Charles Larkin, PC, was a Canadian businessman, diplomat, and political patron.

Larkin, a world traveller who specialized in finding foodstuffs for import, was best known for founding the Salada Tea Company in 1892. Larkin introduced the concept of packaging tea in foil to maintain quality. Previously, tea had been sold in loose form. This innovation proved popular and soon became the industry standard, helping to establish Salada as a leading seller of tea in Canada and the northeastern USA with factories in Toronto, Montreal and Boston.

Larkin was a close friend of Sir Wilfrid Laurier and William Lyon Mackenzie King and was one of several wealthy supporters of the Liberal Party of Canada who contributed furniture, china and silver to Laurier House the residence of Mackenzie King.

As Prime Minister of Canada, King appointed Larkin as Canadian high commissioner to the United Kingdom, a position he held until his death. Larkin was the driving force behind Canada's acquisition of the building later known as Canada House in London to house the high commission.

In the late 1920s, Larkin raised $250,000 for Mackenzie King in order to give him financial security.