BLOOD, THOMAS (1618-80). A bold and cessful adventurer, commonly known as 'Colonel lle was the son of a prosperous black smith, and was probably born in Ireland, but the place of his birth is uncertain. In the great Irish rebellion he served with the Parliamentary Army. He visited England, married a Lanca shire lady, was made a justice of the peace by Henry Cromwell, and received large assignments of land in Ireland. He was deprived of these at the Restoration, and in a spirit of reprisal asso ciated himself with several disbanded Cromwell inns who were ripe for mischief. He put himself at the head of an insurrectionary plot, which was to begin with the seizure of Dublin Castle, and of Ormond, the Lord Lieutenant. On its dis covery he escaped, while his chief accomplices were seized and executed, although he made a bold attempt to rescue them. He remained in hiding, but eventually fled to Holland, where he was received with high consideration. He soon found his way back to England, to try what mischief might be brewed among the Fifth-Mon archy men. Finding no prospects of success, he repaired to Scotland, invited by the turbu lent state of affairs, and was present at the fight of Pentland, November 27. 1666. On the night of December 6, 1670, the Duke of Ormond was seized in his coach in Saint James's Street by a gang of bravoes, tied on horseback be hind one of them, and hurried away toward Tyburn. The timely approach of his attendants at the moment when he had succeeded in strug gling with his riding companion to the ground probably saved him from hanging. The leader
in this daring villainy was Blood, and so well had he contrived it that he did not even incur suspicion. His next enterprise was still more wild and dangerous. On May 9, 1671, disguised as a clergyman, and accompanied by his former accomplices. he entered the Tower with the de termination to carry off the regalia of England. After almost murdering the keeper of the jew els, he succeeded in carrying off the crown un der his cloak, while one of his associates bore away the orb. They were immediately pursued, however, seized, and committed to the Tower jail. But a singular turn of fortune awaited Blood. At the suggestion of Buckingham, who was accused of having hired Blood to attack the Duke of Or mond. King Charles visited the dauntless mis creant in prison, and, dreading the threat that there were hundreds of Blood's associates banded together by oath to avenge the death of any of the fraternity. pardoned him, took him to Court, restored to him his Irish estates, valued at £500 n year. and raised him so high in favor that for several years Colonel Blood was an influential medium of royal patronage. After the fall of the 'Cabal' ministry, Blood became hostile to Buckingham, and, accused of originating a scan dalous charge against him, was committed to prison. He was bailed out and died in his own house in 1680. Scott introduces Blood in Pev evil of (he Peak. Consult Seecombe, Lives of Twelve Bad ]ten (New York, 1896).