Thomas Othen

Biography

Thomas Othen (1815–1886) was a domestic worker who lived and worked in the West End of London during the nineteenth century. His life reflects the experiences of the working classes who formed the backbone of Victorian society, particularly those employed in domestic service in the capital's affluent neighborhoods.

Othen's 71-year lifespan encompassed the height of the British Empire and the dramatic social changes of the Victorian era. As a domestic worker in one of London's most prestigious areas, he would have witnessed the daily lives of the wealthy while contributing his labor to their households.