Today in History: 09 May 1671

England: Thomas Blood Attempts to Steal the Crown Jewels

 

 

On this day in 1671, Thomas Blood attempted to steal the Crown Jewels of England from the Tower of London.

 

 

For more, visit:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Blood

Book:
Colonel Thomas Blood – Crown-Stealer 1618-1680, by Wilbur Cortez Abbott

Today in History – 9 May 1671

England: Thomas Blood Attempts to Steal the Crown Jewels

On this day in 1671, Colonel Thomas Blood attempted to steal the crown jewels of England in a daring robbery that went wrong very quickly. The attempted robbery took place in the Tower of London where the jewels were on public display.

The whole of Blood’s life is interesting, as he continually pops up in the chronology of England’s history during the period of his life (1618-1680). He plays a role in the civil war, was a major player during an Irish revolt against Charles II, was involved in an attempted assassination or two and his attempted theft of the crown jewels.

An account of his life can be found at the Internet Archive:
http://www.archive.org/details/remarksonlifedea00londrich