Great plague of London

In 1665, the town of London (England) was devastated by a epidemic of Bubonic plague which made approximately 70.000 dead (perhaps even 100.000), that is to say approximately 20% of its population.

The disease seems to be brought by boats coming from the Netherlands in 1664. It made several victims during the winter 1664-1665, but the great colds prevented its extension. On the other hand, spring and summer 1665 were unusually hot and the epidemic started to become extensive.

The plague started by striking the poorest mediums and thus passed relatively unperceived at the beginning. The first victim is officially recorded on April 12th, 1665. One counts 700 dead per week as of mid-July, and the number of victims reaches 6.000 per week at the end of August. It is necessary to wait October to record a fall.

The royal family leaves the city as of July 1665 and returned to London only in February 1666. The plague also affects part of the area, certain villages losing up to 50% of their population. The disease is propagated in France where the epidemic stops with the winter 1666.

Cases are still announced to London until September 1666. Paradoxically, the other catastrophe which was the Grand fire of London helped with éradiquer the disease definitively, by destroying many unhealthy districts. During the rebuilding which followed, of the strict standards were forced to improve the general Hygiène.

A testimony of this sad episode of the life of London can be found in the newspaper held by Samuel Pepys. One can also announce the novel of Daniel Defoe, Journal of the year of the plague , written in 1720.

See too

Extracted the newspaper of Samuel Pepys
History off the Plague in England de Daniel Defoe
List of the epidemics of plague

Simple: Great Plague off London

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