Irish Potato Famine Time Line
1845
August
-First reports of potato blight
-The governments of Belgium, Turkey, Alexandria and Sweden would eventually move to prohibit exports of food, particularly corn
September
- Blight was reported in Ireland at the beginning of the month
- On the 16th, Dr Lindley stated that the 'potato murrain has unequivocally declared itself in Ireland'. He asked 'where will Ireland be in the event of a universal potato rot?'
October
- Around 50% of potato crop was estimated to be destroyed
-the Scientific Commissioners was 'very alarming'. However, he also said that 'there is a such a tendency to exaggeration and inaccuracy in Irish reports that delay in acting upon them is always desirable.'
-Public meetings were being held and demanded the establishment of public works; a temporary halt on the export of corn; opening ports to foreign corn; and the closure of distilleries.
November
-The question of repealing the Corn Laws began to dominate British political life. Repeal was opposed by the Protectionist lobby, including many successful Irish merchants, who claimed that reports of scarcity had been exaggerated.
-Secret arrangements were made to import £100,000 worth of Indian corn to Ireland, to be made available in the spring. This was done clandestinely so that private enterprise and local relief efforts would not be disrupted.
-First reports of potato blight
-The governments of Belgium, Turkey, Alexandria and Sweden would eventually move to prohibit exports of food, particularly corn
September
- Blight was reported in Ireland at the beginning of the month
- On the 16th, Dr Lindley stated that the 'potato murrain has unequivocally declared itself in Ireland'. He asked 'where will Ireland be in the event of a universal potato rot?'
October
- Around 50% of potato crop was estimated to be destroyed
-the Scientific Commissioners was 'very alarming'. However, he also said that 'there is a such a tendency to exaggeration and inaccuracy in Irish reports that delay in acting upon them is always desirable.'
-Public meetings were being held and demanded the establishment of public works; a temporary halt on the export of corn; opening ports to foreign corn; and the closure of distilleries.
November
-The question of repealing the Corn Laws began to dominate British political life. Repeal was opposed by the Protectionist lobby, including many successful Irish merchants, who claimed that reports of scarcity had been exaggerated.
-Secret arrangements were made to import £100,000 worth of Indian corn to Ireland, to be made available in the spring. This was done clandestinely so that private enterprise and local relief efforts would not be disrupted.
1846
January
-Medical officers recorded a rise in cases of influenza, jaundice, and small pox, but particularly of diarrhoea and dysentery, caused by eating rotten potatoes.
February
-First shipment of Indian Corn arrived in Ireland
May
-On the 15th, food depots were officially opened so that grain could be sold.
June
-By the end of the month, corn supplies were already low. The government purchased another 3000 tons of corn. This was not intended to feed all the starving, but to discourage private traders from hoarding supplies and then overcharging. It was also designed to encourage the import of grain, which did in fact increase.
-Signs of new potato blight were noted and it became obvious that the crop was effected throughout Ireland.
July
-The Corn Laws were repealed
August
-On the 15th, grain depots were closed.
September
-The Irish Executive warned the government that they must 'save the people from starvation'
October
-At the end of the month, prices of wheat, flour and oatmeal in Cork shot up by 50% in one week alone.
December
-On the 2nd, the Chancellor of the Exchequer Charles Wood blamed the famine on [the Irish people's] 'habit of depending on government. [The solution is] to force them upon their own resources'. He was worried about 'having the whole population of Ireland upon us'.
-Medical officers recorded a rise in cases of influenza, jaundice, and small pox, but particularly of diarrhoea and dysentery, caused by eating rotten potatoes.
February
-First shipment of Indian Corn arrived in Ireland
May
-On the 15th, food depots were officially opened so that grain could be sold.
June
-By the end of the month, corn supplies were already low. The government purchased another 3000 tons of corn. This was not intended to feed all the starving, but to discourage private traders from hoarding supplies and then overcharging. It was also designed to encourage the import of grain, which did in fact increase.
-Signs of new potato blight were noted and it became obvious that the crop was effected throughout Ireland.
July
-The Corn Laws were repealed
August
-On the 15th, grain depots were closed.
September
-The Irish Executive warned the government that they must 'save the people from starvation'
October
-At the end of the month, prices of wheat, flour and oatmeal in Cork shot up by 50% in one week alone.
December
-On the 2nd, the Chancellor of the Exchequer Charles Wood blamed the famine on [the Irish people's] 'habit of depending on government. [The solution is] to force them upon their own resources'. He was worried about 'having the whole population of Ireland upon us'.
1847
January
-The government was receiving more than 100 reports a day on death by starvation.
February
-Many Irish newspapers published a letter from Philadelphia saying the people there wanted to contribute to famine relief. America had made substantial contributions to the relief effort, totaling $395,150
March
-The Times described the Irish as 'a people born and bred from time immemorial, in inveterate indolence, improvidence, disorder, and consequent destitution'. It accused them of 'astounding apathy [...] to the most horrible scenes under their eyes'.
-Legislation was passed so that soup kitchens would provide the principal relief during the summer of 1847. This was known as the Temporary Relief Act or Soup Kitchen Act. Three categories of people were eligible for this kind of relief: 'destitute, helpless or impotent persons', 'destitute, able-bodied persons not holding land' and 'able-bodied persons who held small portions of land'.
April
-In Liverpool, the authorities estimated that 90,000 Irish immigrants had arrived since January, of whom two thirds remained in Liverpool. Doctors there were fearful of an epidemic.
May
-Emigration was in full flood, and many emigrants were suffering from fever by the time they reached their destination. Ships began to arrive at Grosse Isle in Canada, where the Dr George Douglas, who had charge of the quarantine station there, said he had 'not a bed to lay[the invalids] on... I never contemplated the possibility of every vessel arriving with fever as they do now'
June
-On the 21st, the Central Board of Health reported disease similar to 'sea scurvy' caused by the 'defective nutrition' of soup kitchen food.
-Reports on cases of dysentery and fever peaked.
September
-At the beginning of the month, the Board of Health warned that diseases such as dysentery and scurvy were likely to increase over winter. They felt that financial assistance was still required.
-The government was receiving more than 100 reports a day on death by starvation.
February
-Many Irish newspapers published a letter from Philadelphia saying the people there wanted to contribute to famine relief. America had made substantial contributions to the relief effort, totaling $395,150
March
-The Times described the Irish as 'a people born and bred from time immemorial, in inveterate indolence, improvidence, disorder, and consequent destitution'. It accused them of 'astounding apathy [...] to the most horrible scenes under their eyes'.
-Legislation was passed so that soup kitchens would provide the principal relief during the summer of 1847. This was known as the Temporary Relief Act or Soup Kitchen Act. Three categories of people were eligible for this kind of relief: 'destitute, helpless or impotent persons', 'destitute, able-bodied persons not holding land' and 'able-bodied persons who held small portions of land'.
April
-In Liverpool, the authorities estimated that 90,000 Irish immigrants had arrived since January, of whom two thirds remained in Liverpool. Doctors there were fearful of an epidemic.
May
-Emigration was in full flood, and many emigrants were suffering from fever by the time they reached their destination. Ships began to arrive at Grosse Isle in Canada, where the Dr George Douglas, who had charge of the quarantine station there, said he had 'not a bed to lay[the invalids] on... I never contemplated the possibility of every vessel arriving with fever as they do now'
June
-On the 21st, the Central Board of Health reported disease similar to 'sea scurvy' caused by the 'defective nutrition' of soup kitchen food.
-Reports on cases of dysentery and fever peaked.
September
-At the beginning of the month, the Board of Health warned that diseases such as dysentery and scurvy were likely to increase over winter. They felt that financial assistance was still required.
1848
July
-At the beginning of the month, the first signs of blight were seen on the west coast.
-The Young Ireland rebellion took place from the 23rd to the 29th.
September
-Most of Ireland beyond the north east was afflicted by problems. Evicted families were homeless; those who had surrendered property to get into a workhouse had left their small-holdings uncultivated; there had been widespread immigration, and some men had deserted their families; the crops were failing, and the population was weakened by three years of sickness.
December-Cholera appeared in Ireland. It was first seen in sea ports, having been brought over from Britain. Belfast was badly effected, including the Belfast workhouse.
-At the beginning of the month, the first signs of blight were seen on the west coast.
-The Young Ireland rebellion took place from the 23rd to the 29th.
September
-Most of Ireland beyond the north east was afflicted by problems. Evicted families were homeless; those who had surrendered property to get into a workhouse had left their small-holdings uncultivated; there had been widespread immigration, and some men had deserted their families; the crops were failing, and the population was weakened by three years of sickness.
December-Cholera appeared in Ireland. It was first seen in sea ports, having been brought over from Britain. Belfast was badly effected, including the Belfast workhouse.
1849
January
-The Central Board of Health warned all boards of guardians that a cholera epidemic was imminent. They were to promote cleanliness and provide medical relief. Under the Nuisance Removal and Disease Prevention Act, they were responsible for the cleanliness of their unions.
March
-Cholera was now present in each of the distressed unions.
August
-The harvest this year was good in most places, although some signs of blight were seen, particularly in County Clare. The good harvest prompted the Treasury to demand back the Rate-in-Aid, the Temporary Relief Advances and the loans made for building workhouses.
-The Central Board of Health warned all boards of guardians that a cholera epidemic was imminent. They were to promote cleanliness and provide medical relief. Under the Nuisance Removal and Disease Prevention Act, they were responsible for the cleanliness of their unions.
March
-Cholera was now present in each of the distressed unions.
August
-The harvest this year was good in most places, although some signs of blight were seen, particularly in County Clare. The good harvest prompted the Treasury to demand back the Rate-in-Aid, the Temporary Relief Advances and the loans made for building workhouses.
**In the end, one million Irish people died and 1.5 million emigrated to different countries**