The fire burned unchecked for over three days and in the end over 80% of the city was destroyed. More is known today about the extent of the damage caused by the fire and most agree to it beginnings within Pudding Lane. Learned in many things, skill’d in Musick,Ī very greate Cherisher of Learned men … ‘ Sam: Pepys, a very worthy, Industrious, & curious person, In Pepys later years he and Evelyn were good friends and on Pepys death Evelyn wrote: He was known as one of the foremost geniuses of his day and was a founder member of the Royal Society and given a Royal Appointment by James II. Evelyn was learned in classical literature as well as scientific and technical matters. We see how Londons Mayor preferred to stay in bed during the fire because he has been partying the night before, & how Samuel Pepys rushed to bury his.

John Evelyn’s who lived at that time also kept a personal diary, which corroborates Samuel Pepys account of the fire. He was known to the Court and was an acquaintance of the Duke of York through his work within the navy. It is not corroborated that Pepys was given this particular task only that he was called before the King.

This may be a bit of pomposity on Pepys part, that the King would give him such an important task, in other peoples accounts it is stated that the King did indeed listen to Pepys but then the Duke of York was the one to suggest and approach the Mayor with the order. States that he was summoned before the King who listened to his account and commanded him to go to the Lord Mayor and get him to demolish a line of buildings so as to create a firebreak. This is understandable due the makeup of the city buildings being easily flammable. Slipping on his nightgowne, he goes to the window and assesses that the fire is somewhere around Marke Lane (now just Mark Lane speakers of ye olde English had a knack. It was only the following morning that the ferocity of the fire was realised. Samuel Pepys first hears of the Great Fire on the 2nd of September 1666 when he’s woken by his maid at 3am to news of great fire they saw in the City. On the evening of SeptemPepys was woken by his maid and took his first view of the fire, thinking it a common enough matter went back to bed.

The great fire of london samuel pepys