The Great Plague of London and the Great Fire of London the following year, 1666, commended less densely populated land immediately around the city to those conducting high level business in the city. Daniel Defoe, who lived in the border-village of Stoke Newington, described Hackney in the 1720s as comprising "twelve hamlets" and "having so many rich citizens that it contained nearly a hundred coaches". Hackney House was put up for the Governor of the Bank of England, Stamp Brooksbank, M.P. (d. 1756). An earlier neighbour was a prominent expander of (the Honourable) East India Company.