Thomas Bambridge (died 1741) was a British attorney who became a notorious warden of the

Fleet Prison Fleet Prison was a notorious London prison by the side of the River Fleet. The prison was built in 1197, was rebuilt several times, and was in use until 1844. It was demolished in 1846. History The prison was built in 1197 off what is now ...

in London. Bambridge became warden of the Fleet in 1728. He had paid, with another person, £5,000 to John Huggins for the wardenship. He was found guilty of extortion, and, according to a committee of the

House of Commons The House of Commons is the name for the elected lower house of the Bicameralism, bicameral parliaments of the United Kingdom and Canada. In both of these countries, the Commons holds much more legislative power than the nominally upper house of ...

appointed to inquire into the state of English gaols, arbitrarily and unlawfully loaded with irons, put into dungeons, and destroyed prisoners for debt, treating them in the most barbarous and cruel manner, in violation of the law. He was committed to

Newgate Prison Newgate Prison was a prison at the corner of Newgate Street and Old Bailey, just inside the City of London, England, originally at the site of Newgate, a gate in the Roman London Wall. Built in the 12th century and demolished in 1904, the pr ...

, and an act, Warden of Fleet Prison Act 1728 ( 2 Geo. 2. c. 32) was passed to prevent his enjoying the office of warden.

Notes

External links

"Ungovernable" prisoners: Fleet Prison during the 1720s
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bambridge, Thomas 1741 deaths 18th-century British lawyers British prison governors British extortionists Year of birth unknown