We have been truly delighted to be asked by Diana Hamilton-Jones to add a logo to any of our pieces in commemoration of James Braidwood, the Father of the Modern Fire Service. Keen to learn more about the Bicentenary of the founding of the world's first
If you would like to have one of these lovely logos on your piece, let us know!
In September 2008 Diana Hamilton-Jones was invited by the late Dr. Frank Rushbrook, former Edinburgh Fire Chief, to attend the unveiling of the statue of James Braidwood he had commissioned and which now stands proudly on The Royal Mile next to St. Giles Cathedral. James Braidwood was his hero and Diana's great, great, great grandfather. She was inspired by Dr. Rushbrook to continue where he left off to raise Braidwood’s profile in the public conscience and by giving talks and bringing him to the attention of various groups, schools, the media and politicians she has been endeavouring to do just that. James Braidwood’s contribution to society is immeasurable, but sadly, he remains little known today, even amongst fire-fighters.
He was born in Edinburgh on 3rd September 1800. The Braidwood family was well respected in Edinburgh society; his father, Francis, was a well-known cabinet maker and builder and his uncle, William, had been Minister of the Original Baptist Church for 40 years and in 1805 was appointed Manager of the newly formed Caledonian Insurance Company. James was educated at the Royal High School of Edinburgh and then studied to be a surveyor in his father’s building company. It was here he learned so much about building materials and how they react under stress, especially fire.
The 1824 Great Fire of Edinburgh finally forced the authorities to consider forming a municipal fire service. Prior to this time there was no organised fire-fighting leading to a great deal of damage and loss of life. James Braidwood, who had impressed the authorities with his organised approach to fire-fighting when assisting as a volunteer was appointed as Superintendent of Engines to the world’s first municipal fire service, The Edinburgh Fire Engine Establishment, on 23rd October 1824.
From a blank page he created a science of fire-fighting, he recruited a team of 80 men, trained them and oversaw the design of their equipment and uniforms. Their safety and well-being was of prime importance to him, as well as providing an efficient service to the public he served. He took notes on every fire attended and by 1830 published the first book in English on fire fighting and training fire fighters.
Word of his expertise spread throughout the country as well as abroad and in 1832 he was invited to move to London where, in 1833, he was appointed the Superintendent of Engines to the newly formed London Fire Engine Establishment (later the London Fire Brigade). Again he built up a strong team of men, who like those in Edinburgh, grew to love and respect him.
His peers, superiors and the authorities also held James Braidwood in high regard. He was always polite, persistent in his desire to provide the best service through constant improvements, diligent, selfless, courageous and devout. He worshipped every week at the Scottish Church in Covent Garden and became a Sunday School teacher there; his charitable work included assisting at the Ragged Schools which clothed, fed and educated some of the many homeless children roaming the streets of London.
Through his expertise he was able to save several buildings of national historical significance including the medieval Westminster Hall when the Houses of Parliament were destroyed and the White & Jewel Towers at the Tower of London.
Throughout his career he wrote extensive reports to his superiors informing them of his progress and also making requests for much needed improvements in fire safety, as well as writing Fire Prevention Reports for leading establishments, including Buckingham Palace, the Admiralty, the Bank of England and the British Museum, so becoming the first Fire Prevention Officer. He worked closely with the London City Missions from whom he requested support for his men who had been traumatised by their experiences, so becoming the first Well Being Officer.
On 14th November 1838 he married Mary Ann Jane Jackson, a widow with 4 children and together they had a further 6. His 3 priorities were now his family, his faith and the fire service.
On 22nd June 1861 a fire broke out on Cotton Wharf, Tooley Street in the Thames Docks. It was a fire he had predicted and warned about many years earlier, repeatedly advising on the safe storage of goods in the warehouses which had been growing in size. His advice was ignored and he was killed on the first day of the fire, which burned for 2 weeks, whilst assisting his men. It was 2 days before it was possible to recover his body. Queen Victoria was notified of his death and she wrote of it in her diary and sent a personal letter of sympathy to Jane Braidwood.
James Braidwood was buried on 29th June 1861 in Abney Park Cemetery, Stoke Newington, London. His funeral was the largest for a commoner since that of the Duke of Wellington, the funeral procession stretching for 1.5 miles with crowds lining the streets 10 deep.
James Braidwood was a man of vision; he created a science where there was none before, he pioneered many aspects of fire-fighting including multi-agency cooperation, introduced new equipment including a rudimentary breathing apparatus, a hand pump and fire retardant materials. Some of his methods form part of basic training today.
Together with the Scottish Fire & Rescue Service I am co-hosting a special service at St. Giles Cathedral, Edinburgh in October 2024 to honour James Braidwood and celebrate 200 years of municipal fire-fighting in Scotland. It is my hope that this momentous occasion will be marked across the country and further afield and will lead to him receiving the honour and recognition he so richly deserves.
The Scottish Fire Brigades Heritage Trust has commissioned a special coin to commemorate this bicentenary year; funds raised by the sale of the coin will be donated to their charities. https://sfbheritagetrust.org
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