Samuel Pepys was famous for his diary. It’s an amazing historical document that details the main events in Restoration England, including the Great Plague of 1665-1666 and the Great Fire of London of 1666.
What is Samuel Pepys famous?
Samuel Pepys, (born February 23, 1633, London, England—died May 26, 1703, London), English diarist and naval administrator, celebrated for his Diary (first published in 1825), which gives a fascinating picture of the official and upper-class life of Restoration London from Jan. 1, 1660, to May 31, 1669.
How is Samuel Pepys remembered?
Pepys has been called the greatest diarist of all time due to his frankness in writing concerning his own weaknesses and the accuracy with which he records events of daily British life and major events in the 17th century.
What was unique about Pepys diary?
The diary wasn’t written in code but in a form of shorthand called tachygraphy. It took a reverend several years to decipher the diary – and this wasn’t done until the 1820s. Partly what makes the diary so entertaining is Pepys’s personality: his confession of his own weaknesses, his refreshing frankness.
What historic event in London is Pepys diary best known for?
the Great Plague in
One important eyewitness account given by Pepys describes the impact of the Great Plague in London. The Second Pandemic as it became known was a centuries’ long epidemic of plagues which began in the 1300’s with the Black Death and continued until the outbreak of the Great Plague.
Who witnessed the Great Fire of London?
In September 1666, a fire destroyed much of the city of London. The diarist, Samuel Pepys, and a schoolboy called William Taswell witnessed what happened.
Who buried cheese in 1666?
Samuel Pepys
Samuel Pepys was stationed at the Navy Office on Seething Lane and from 1660 lived in a house attached to the office. It was in the garden of this house that he famously buried his treasured wine and parmesan cheese during the Great Fire of 1666.
What qualities of Pepys personality are revealed?
British author Samuel Pepys (pronounced “Peeps”) fused together two opposite personality traits—he had a chaotic, unbridled personal life bursting with creative energy and physical passions, but he also had the ordered and disciplined mind of a highly successful bureaucrat.
What did Pepys say about the plague?
As plague moved from parish to parish Pepys described the changing face of London-life – ‘nobody but poor wretches in the streets’, ‘no boats upon the River’, ‘fires burning in the street’ to cleanse the air and ‘little noise heard day or night but tolling of bells’ that accompanied the burial of plague victims.
What is the main idea of Samuel Pepys Journal?
Over the course of the narrative, Pepys works to root out corruption in the navy, commits some of his own corruption, and is an eyewitness to major historical events of the time. These include the Great Plague of 1665 and the Great Fire of London in 1666, two events where he helps keep order.
How did Samuel Pepys describe the Great Fire of London?
Pepys records scorched pigeons falling from the skies, people flinging their belongings into the river, a singed cat pulled alive from a chimney, flakes and drops of fire floating across the city, glass melted and buckled by the heat and the ground hot as coals.
Who wrote a famous diary about the fire?
Samuel Pepys was famous for his diary. It’s an amazing historical document that details the main events in Restoration England, including the Great Plague of 1665-1666 and the Great Fire of London of 1666. The Great Fire of London is likely to be part of your children’s history lessons in year 1 and year 2.
How did The diary of Samuel Pepys help the government?
As a clerk in the Admiralty, Pepys proved to be a capable administrator, instrumental in the growing efforts to make the British Navy more professional. In fact, Pepys’ personal efforts helped develop the British Navy into the great force it would become in later years.
What is the year 1666 known for?
September 2-6: The Great Fire of London breaks out.
Why is the year 1666 significant?
Great Fire of London, (September 2–5, 1666), the worst fire in London’s history. It destroyed a large part of the City of London, including most of the civic buildings, old St. Paul’s Cathedral, 87 parish churches, and about 13,000 houses.
What is the meaning of Pepys?
someone who keeps a diary or journal.
Who was blamed for the great fire?
French watchmaker Robert Hubert confessed to starting the blaze and was hanged on October 27, 1666. Years later it was revealed he was at sea when the fire began, and could not have been responsible. There were other scapegoats, including people of Catholic faith and from overseas.
Who stopped the fire of London?
The Lord Mayor tried to stop the blaze by pulling down houses, but the fire moved too fast. The government stepped in to help tackle the fire. They set up eight bases called fire posts. The fire was successfully held back at St Dunstan-in-the-East, thanks to the efforts of a group of schoolboys.
How many animals died in the Great Fire of London?
Aftermath. Estimates say that over 750,000 pets were killed over the course of the event.
Who was the first person to eat cheese?
No one really knows who made the first cheese. According to an ancient legend, it was made accidentally by an Arabian merchant who put his supply of milk into a pouch made from a sheep’s stomach, as he set out on a day’s journey across the desert.
Did anything survive the Great Fire London?
Although the Great Fire of London destroyed over 13,000 houses, almost 90 churches and even the mighty St Paul’s Cathedral, a handful of survivors managed to escape the flames and can still be seen to this day.