Unveiling the London Blaze: The Story of Robert Hubert and the Great Fire of 1666

In the annals of history, certain names emerge as symbols of tragedy and injustice, individuals who bear the weight of collective misfortune. Robert Hubert, a French watchmaker hailing from Rouen, France, is one such figure. His name is forever linked to one of the most catastrophic events in the history of London: the Great Fire of 1666. Despite a bewildering confession and glaring contradictions, Hubert became the convenient scapegoat for an accidental cataclysm that devastated the city.

The Great Fire: A Devastating Catastrophe

Between the 2nd and 6th of September 1666, a massive fire erupted on Pudding Lane in the City of London. The fire began in the bakery of Thomas Farriner and rapidly spread due to the tightly packed timber-framed buildings and a strong easterly wind. The blaze consumed nearly 80 per cent of the old city, including 13,200 houses, 87 parish churches, and iconic buildings such as St. Paul’s Cathedral

The inferno's relentless path of destruction left a trail of devastation in its wake, turning London into a smoldering ruin. Amidst the chaos and confusion, the hunt for a culprit began, and Robert Hubert would unwittingly find himself at the center of a storm that would lead to his execution.

• Fighting the Flaming Wrath - The Great Fire of London, 1666
• The Great Stink of 1858: When the Thames River was Filth and Excrement

Spread of the Great Fire of London based on Tinniswood (2003, p. 97) and Hollar (1666). (Bunchofgrapesderivative work Tom Fish · geo.fish · Fish Eye/ CC BY-SA 3.0)

The Confession: A Confounding Account

Hubert's journey into infamy began with a confession that can only be described as perplexing. In the aftermath of the Great Fire, London was in chaos, and the authorities were desperate to find someone to blame. Hubert, a French watchmaker, was caught up in a general roundup of foreigners who were viewed with suspicion.

Initially, he admitted to igniting a fire in Westminster, a story that quickly unraveled as investigators learned that the flames had never reached that far. Adjusting his narrative, Hubert asserted that he had thrown a crude fire grenade through the open window of Thomas Farriner's bakery on Pudding Lane, the very spot where the fire originated.

To make the tale even more confounding, Hubert claimed to have acted with accomplices who deliberately hindered efforts to extinguish the flames by stopping water sources. His motives, as he revealed, were shrouded in mystery, asserting that he was a French spy and an agent of the Pope. It was a story as convoluted as it was improbable. Yet, in the atmosphere of fear and suspicion that followed the fire, Hubert’s confession, however dubious, provided a convenient explanation for the disaster.

• Here is What it Would Have Been Like to be Caught in the Great Fire of London
• Beaten to Death for Littering with Eel Skins: ‘Murder Map’ of Medieval London

Hostile depiction of Hubert from the Pyrotechnica Loyalana, showing him receiving a fire-bomb from a Jesuit labelled "Pa.H." (British Museum/Public domain)

The Trial and Execution: A Rush to Judgement

Hubert's confession raised more questions than it answered, with the account marked by inconsistencies and impossibilities. Most notably, Hubert had not even been in London at the time the fire broke out; he had not set foot in England until two days after the inferno's commencement. A captain of the Swedish ship the Maid of Stockholm testified years later, affirming that he had personally brought Hubert ashore two days after the fire had already consumed London.

Furthermore, Hubert had never seen the Farriner bakery and was physically impaired to such an extent that he could not have thrown the alleged fire grenade. His confession led to speculation of mental incapacity or the possibility of coercion, perhaps involving extreme forms of torture.

As contemporary accounts suggest, few at his trial genuinely believed in Hubert's guilt. One account described him as a "poor distracted wretch, weary of his life, choosing to part with it in this way." The jury concluded that he was not acting out of religious fervor but was "moved and led away by the instigation of the devil."

On the 27th of October 1666, Robert Hubert met his end on the Gallows at Tyburn.  Yet even in death, he could not escape the torment of public indignation. While en route to the Company of Barber-Surgeons for dissection, his body was torn apart by an enraged crowd of Londoners. His execution, while riddled with contradictions, served as a convenient solution to a city desperate for closure and a scapegoat.

The Need for a Scapegoat: A Nation in Turmoil

The fires of nationalism raged during this period, as Britain was embroiled in the Second Anglo-Dutch War. Suspicion fell upon foreigners, be they Dutch, French, Spanish, or Irish. Frenchmen, in particular, found themselves vulnerable, exemplified by the murder of a Frenchman whose tennis balls were mistaken for fiery projectiles.

Catholics were also cast under the shadow of suspicion, with the Monument to the Great Fire of London, erected in 1668, explicitly attributing the disaster to "the treachery and malice of the Popish faction." This reflected the deep-seated anti-Catholic sentiments prevalent at the time, further fueling the public's readiness to accept Hubert's guilt despite the lack of evidence.

The Legacy of Robert Hubert: A Tragic Tale of Injustice

The story of Robert Hubert serves as a somber reminder of the lengths to which societies may go to find a scapegoat in the face of catastrophic events. While the Great Fire of London left indelible scars on the city, Hubert's unjust fate exposes the human tendency to seek an easy solution, even when evidence is lacking.

In 1667, after the hysteria surrounding the need for scapegoats had waned, the fire was officially attributed to natural causes. The heavy hand of God, a great wind, and an exceptionally dry season were now considered the culprits, as the city sought solace in a narrative less reliant on blame.

In the centuries that followed, the specter of the Great Fire of London slowly receded from public consciousness. London rebuilt itself, expanded, and evolved into the metropolis we recognize today. Yet, the memory of Robert Hubert, the watchmaker from Rouen, remained a footnote in the annals of history. His unjust execution has come to symbolize the haste and hysteria that often follow catastrophic events.

A Legacy of Caution

The story of Robert Hubert is a stark reminder of the perils of scapegoating and the hazards of relying solely on confessions, especially when public sentiment is inflamed. In our modern world, where the search for truth is more critical than ever, the tale of Hubert serves as a cautionary tale. It underscores the importance of due process, the need for thorough investigations, and the responsibility to protect the vulnerable.

As we remember the Great Fire of London, let us remember the indomitable spirit that allowed a city to rise from the ashes and continue its journey through history. May the memory of Robert Hubert serve as a poignant reminder of the consequences of unjust condemnation in times of chaos and despair. Hubert's legacy is a testament to the complexities of human nature, the impact of historical events, and the capacity for societies to both condemn and redeem.

In the end, the tale of Robert Hubert, like the Great Fire itself, will endure as a testament to the human spirit's capacity for both cruelty and compassion.

Top image: Oil on panel Dutch School painting depicting the Great Fire Of London.      Source: Ben Sutherland/CC BY 2.0

By Richard Clements