The Bode Family was brought from Hanover to England in 1732 to staff the Secret Office of the Post Office, which intercepted and read mail, both domestic and foreign. The understanding was that the family's children would enjoy government patronage.

Mr. Bode remained chief of the Secret Office for 52 years until 1784. (He died two years later, at age 91.) When he retired he was succeeded by Mr. Todd, with the principal staff being Bode's three sons and Todd's nephew, Mr. Madison. Todd was employed by the Secret Office from 1751 or 1752 until 1792, and when he retired, he was succeeded by his nephew. William Bode, one of the elder Bode's sons, became chief of the Secret Office in 1799.

During the parliamentary debates into mail opening in 1844, William Bode, still head of the Secret Office, gave testimony to both the Houses of Commons and the Lords. Following the publicity, the office was abolished by Lord Palmerston, the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, on Jan. 1, 1847. After the staff was pensioned off, there were numerous appeals against the injustice done to the Bode Family.