Thomas Bloodworth

Sir Thomas Bloodworth (sometimes spelled Bludworth) (baptized 13 February 1620 – 12 May 1682) was an English merchant and politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1660 to 1679. He was Lord Mayor of London from October 1665 to October 1666 and his inaction during the early stages of the Great Fire of London was widely criticized as one of the causes for the great extent of the damage to the city.

Background

Bloodworth was the son of Edward Blidward, yeoman of Heanor, Derbyshire and was baptised on 13 February 1620. In 1635, he was apprenticed to a London vintner and became a member of the mercantile guild the Company of Vintners. He became a successful Turkey merchant and was primarily a timber merchant. He was a member of the committee of the East India Company (E.I.C.) from 1651 to 1661 and one of the Court Assistants for the Levant Company from 1652 to 1665. In 1658 he was elected an alderman of the City of London for Dowgate ward. In 1660 he was elected Member of Parliament for Southwark in the Convention Parliament. He was knighted on 16 May 1660. He was a Colonel of the Orange Regiment in 1660 and a colonel of the yellow Regiment from 1660 to 1682. In 1661, he was re-elected MP for Southwark for the Cavalier Parliament. He became an alderman for Portsoken ward in 1662 and was a member of the committee of the E.I.C. from 1662 to 1663. In 1663 he served as one of the two sheriffs of London. He was alderman of Aldersgate from 1663 to 1682 and was on the committee E.I.C again from 1664 to 1665. In 1665 he was Master of the Vintners Company.

Thomas Bloodworth (New Zealand politician)

Thomas Bloodworth OBE (10 February 1882 – 11 May 1974) was a New Zealand politician. He was a Member of the Legislative Council and its last Chairman of Committees.

Political career

Born in Maxey, Northamptonshire in 1882, Bloodworth was a member of the British Independent Labour Party and came to New Zealand in 1907. He joined the Auckland Socialist Party in 1910 and was Secretary of the Auckland Carpenters' Union (1914–1936). Bloodworth helped found the Auckland WEA (Workers' Educational Association) and was Auckland Vice-President of the Land Values League.

He stood as the NZLP candidate for Parnell in 1919 and again at the 1930 by-election. Bloodworth was an Auckland City Councillor for a total of 33 years: 1919–1927 and 1928–1931 (Labour); 1931–1938 (Independent); and 1953–1968 (Citizens and Ratepayers). He was also a member of the Auckland Electric Power Board and Chairman of the Auckland Harbour Board. Bloodworth broke with the New Zealand Labour Party in 1930. He was a member of the New Zealand Legislative Council for three terms over 16 years from 22 June 1934 to its abolition in 1950. He was the Council's last Chairman of Committees between 5 July and 31 December 1950.