Sir Thomas Bloodworth: London alderman, Lord Mayor during the 1666 Great Fire

Career and civic roles

Bloodworth rose through the civic ranks as a member of one of the City of London livery companies and sat as an alderman. His election to the mayoralty placed him at the head of the city government at a difficult time: the capital was still recovering from the 1665 plague and faced dense timber-built streets. As Lord Mayor he had powers over public order and emergency measures within the city.

Role in the Great Fire of London

When the Great Fire began in a bakery on Pudding Lane, the blaze rapidly spread through wooden houses and narrow streets. Contemporary accounts and later historians have criticised Bloodworth for failing to grant a prompt and decisive order to demolish buildings to create firebreaks — a standard tactic of the age. His hesitation, and that of other civic and royal officials, allowed the fire to gain momentum and destroy large sections of the medieval city.

Controversy and reputation

Bloodworth attracted harsh criticism from contemporaries; diarists and civic observers accused him of indecision. Anecdotes and attributions about his remarks and conduct circulated widely after the disaster, contributing to a lasting reputation as an ineffective mayor. Modern historians note, however, that the response involved many actors and that institutional constraints, weather conditions and building patterns also shaped the calamity.

Later life and legacy

After his mayoralty, Bloodworth continued to sit in Parliament. He died in the 1680s, leaving a complex legacy: a long-serving city official whose name is permanently linked with one of London’s greatest catastrophes. His case is often cited in discussions about municipal authority, emergency powers and public accountability.

Notable facts

• Served as Lord Mayor of London from October 1665 to October 1666 (mayoral office).
• Sat in the House of Commons for nearly two decades during the Restoration period.
• Often held responsible for the initial failure to implement demolitions during the Great Fire of London, though responsibility was shared across civic and royal authorities.

Further reading about the period and civic administration in 17th-century London is available through general histories and specialized studies of the fire and the city's governance. For contemporary records and diarists who described these events, consult collections that cover the Restoration era and municipal archives.