Colonel Blood Abducts the Duke of Ormonde

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Sir Walter Besant, in The Fascination of London, published in 1903, continues his survey of St James' Street with a mention of Colonel Blood's attempt to kidnap the Duke of Ormonde:

St. James's Coffee-house, a celebrated Whig rendezvous from the reign of Queen Anne until the beginning of the nineteenth century, was at the "Thatched House" Club end of the street.

In this street there are also many other clubs of later origin.

It was at the foot of St. James's Street that the Duke of Ormonde was attacked in his coach in 1670, by the notorious Colonel Blood.

The Duke had been responsible for the execution of some of Blood's associates in Ireland, and Blood determined to take him to Tyburn and hang him in revenge.

He actually succeeded in dragging him from his coach and mounting him on horseback behind one of his men.

When they had proceeded as far as Devonshire House, the Duke succeeded in unhorsing his companion, and in the delay that followed his servants made their appearance and rescued him.

For this outrage Blood was never punished.

Sir Christopher Wren died in St. James's Street in 1723, and Gibbon, the historian, in 1794.

The names of Waller, the poet, Wolfe, C. Fox, and Lord Byron, are among the residents.

It was here that the last named was lodging when his "Childe Harold" created such an extraordinary sensation.

Alexander Pope was also a resident.

Next: London: St James' Street: Park Place