In the early 1840s, Britain faced an economic depression, exacerbating misery among the poor.
A trade slump in 1839 led to rising unemployment, compounded by bad harvests.
With a rapidly growing population and the Corn Laws keeping bread prices high, people suffered.
In 1845, potato blight hit England and Scotland, then spread to Ireland, ruining crops.
The blight, caused by Phytophthora infestans originating in Mexico, returned in 1846,
triggering the Irish Potato Famine from 1845-1852.
This devastating famine, resulting from the failure of the potato staple crop,
brought severe economic, social, demographic consequences and mass starvation in Ireland. JW.
reported June 25th 1842 in The Illustrated London News
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