Colonel Blood stealing the Crown Jewels, 1824

Henry Perronet Briggs RA (1791 - 1844)

RA Collection: Art

When exhibited at the British Institution in 1824 (121), the painting was titled 'Colonel Blood's attempt to steal the Regalia from the Tower of London'. The catalogue entry was accompanied by the following quotation translated from Paul de Rapin's History of England (1673):

"He went disguised as a Clerygman with two associates, and after beating the keeper, carried off the crown, globe, &c." - Rapin.

Colonel Thomas Blood (1618-1680) was born in Ireland but came to England to fight for King Charles I in the English Civil War but changed sides to join the Roundheads once Cromwell was about to win the war. He retired to Ireland after the restoration of Charles II. Despite making an unsuccessful attempt to steal the Crown Jewels, Blood was pardoned by the King.