Thomas Bloodworth facts for kids

Sir Thomas Bloodworth was an English merchant and politician who lived from 1620 to 1682. He served in the English Parliament from 1660 to 1679. He also held the important position of Lord Mayor of London from October 1665 to October 1666. Many people criticized his actions, or lack of action, during the start of the Great Fire of London. They believed his choices led to the fire causing much more damage to the city.

Early Life and Career

Thomas Bloodworth was born in Derbyshire in 1620. When he was about 15 years old, he moved to London to become an apprentice to a vintner, someone who sells wine. He later joined the Worshipful Company of Vintners, a special group for wine merchants.

He became a successful merchant, especially dealing with timber. He was also involved with the East India Company, a big trading company, and the Levant Company, which traded with countries in the Middle East.

In 1658, he became an alderman for the City of London, which is like a city council member. In 1660, he was chosen to be a Member of Parliament for Southwark. He was also knighted, which means he received the title "Sir." He continued to serve in Parliament for many years.

The Great Fire of London

This painting from 1675 shows the Great Fire of London. You can see London Bridge on the left and the Tower of London on the right. St. Paul's Cathedral is in the distance, surrounded by tall flames.

Sir Thomas Bloodworth became the Lord Mayor of London in November 1665. Less than a year later, in the early morning of September 2, 1666, a fire started at a baker's house.

At that time, firefighters would try to stop fires by pulling down buildings next to the burning ones. This was done to create gaps, so the fire couldn't spread. However, destroying property was a serious matter. The Mayor had to give permission before any buildings could be pulled down.

When Mayor Bloodworth arrived at the fire, he refused to let the buildings be torn down. He might have been worried about people complaining if their property was destroyed unnecessarily. According to Samuel Pepys, a famous diarist of the time, Bloodworth didn't seem too concerned. He reportedly said the fire was so small "a woman might piss it out," before going back home to sleep.

Over the next three days, the fire grew much larger. It destroyed more than 15 percent of London. Many people blamed Bloodworth for not stopping the fire sooner. However, it was a complex situation. He couldn't legally pull down houses without the King's permission, or he would be personally responsible for rebuilding them. He also faced strong disagreement from other city leaders.

Sir Thomas Bloodworth continued to serve in Parliament until 1679. He passed away in May 1682, at the age of 62.

Family Life

Sir Thomas Bloodworth was married twice. His first wife was Mary Rogers, and they had two sons and one daughter.

His second wife was Mary Benn. They married in 1657 and had two sons and three daughters.

One of his daughters, Anne, married George Jeffreys, 1st Baron Jeffreys. He was a very important judge and later the Lord Chancellor for King James II. Anne was known for being a very strong-willed woman.