The Tooley Street fire and the death of James Braidwood

Background. James Braidwood, born in Edinburgh, founded the first municipal fire service there in 1824. He later led the London Fire Engine Establishment, formed in 1833. The Tooley Street fire started on 22 June 1861 at Cotton's Wharf. Lack of hydraulic pumps and limited water supply in the area were noted in an 1862 report, which also recorded insurance losses exceeding £1 million.

The Fire and Braidwood's Death. The fire began around 4 p.m. on 22 June 1861. Braidwood, superintendent of the London Fire Engine Establishment, was killed around 7:30 p.m. when a section of a warehouse collapsed on him. He was aged 61. His death is recorded on the National Firefighters Memorial near St Paul's Cathedral.

Legacy and Commemoration. The fire spurred insurance companies to lobby for a publicly funded brigade, leading to the London Fire Brigade's formation in 1865. Braidwood is commemorated by a plaque on Battle Bridge Lane, a memorial in Crown Court Church, and Braidwood Street, named after him near the site of his death.