Bathroom Breaks That Changed History

Bathroom Breaks That Changed History

Shannon Quinn - November 19, 2022

Bathroom Breaks That Changed History
Portrait of Bridget Holmes by John Riley. Credit: Wikimedia Commons

One Chambermaid Became Famous For Cleaning The Toilets of Five Consecutive Royal Reigns

A woman named Bridget Holmes worked as a domestic servant for the English royal family throughout the 17th Century. One of her main jobs was to clean out the chamber pots of the royals. She worked for Charles I, Charles II, James II, and William III and Mary II. Jobs like this are normally thankless, but Bridget Holmes was honored by having her portrait painted by an artist named John Riley in 1686. This was a huge honor, since portraits were usually only made for incredibly rich people and members of royalty. Bridget died when she was 100 years old, and she was honored by being allowed to be buried in Westminster Abbey.

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