-
Severe Famine Occured in Ireland
-
Start of Two Year Crop Failure
The start of two years of crop failure, during which time distress was successfully relieved by local and central intervention including an embargo on exporting food. -
Act of Union Came into Force
The Act of Union came into force. Ireland now represented more than 40% of the population of the United Kingdom, but only 105 of the 658 Members of Parliament at Westminster.
Severe food shortages occurred in Ireland. -
First National Census of Ireland
The first national census of Ireland took place. The British government was making economic enquiries into the agricultural system of Ireland and the problem of poverty there. -
Population Had Grown by 14.3% in Ten Years
-
Archbishop Wheitely was appointed to enquire into the condition of the poorer classes
Archbishop Wheitely was appointed to enquire into the condition of the poorer classes. A three year survey was carried out, which involved interviewing 1590 people. The Commission estimated that 2,385,000 people were out of work and needing assistance for thirty weeks a year. It recommended the encouragement of emigration and a scheme of economic development. However, economists such as Nassau Senior opposed the idea of government intervention. Lord John Russell argued. -
George Nicholls visited Ireland
George Nicholls visited Ireland and recommended an Irish Poor Law, allowing for the creation of workhouses. This would help transition the economy and 'shape the Irish character'. -
George Nicholls visited Ireland
George Nicholls visited Ireland again and admitted that poverty was more extensive than he had believed. He stated that the Poor Law would be insufficient 'where the land has ceased to be reproductive'. His report was presented to the House of Commons as the Irish Poor Law Bill. -
Irish Poor Law Act was Passed
The act introduced a national system of poor relief. It was prompted by fears that unemployed Irish immigrants could flood into Britain and increase poverty there. The Act allowed workhouses to accommodate the most distressed citizens. Unlike in England, there was no guaranteed right to relief; it depended on the number of free places in the workhouse. By 1845, 118 workhouses would be open and providing relief. -
Severe Distress Occurred in the South and West of Ireland
Unusually severe distress occurred in the south and west of Ireland. The Poor Law Commissioners insisted that the government should not help. -
40% of Ireland Relied on Potato Crops
40% of the population relied on the potato as the source of their diet. The potato had been introduced to Ireland in the late sixteenth century and was often eaten with buttermilk or skimmed milk. It was easy to cultivate and cook; it grew well in the Irish climate, coping with boggy ground and rocky hillsides. However, it was also difficult to transport in bulk, and could not be stored for long. People were therefore vulnerable to 'hungry months' which took place between the old and new crops. -
Irish Population Stood at Over Eight Million
A census showed that the Irish population stood at over eight million. It had grown by 50% since 1800, although the increase since 1831 had only been 5.5%. The census also indicated that Ireland in general was not industrialising; the labour force in industry declined from 43% in 1821 to 28% in 1841, while the rural workforce had increased by fifty percent. -
Beginning of Potato Blight
August: First reports of the potato blight came in from the Isle of Wight and Kent. On the 3rd, Longford Poor Law union reported that it could not procure potatoes.
October: Around 50% of the crop was estimated destroyed. Ireland was on the brink of disaster.
November: Secret arrangements were made to import £100,000 worth of Indian corn to Ireland, to be made available in the spring. This was done secretly so that private enterprise and local relief efforts would not be disrupted. -
Year Two of Potato Blight
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: The first shipment of Indian corn arrived in Ireland. It was unloaded in Cork where it was to be ground ready for consumption. Indian corn was difficult to prepare and not known in Ireland. It was bulky and filling.
March: Fever Act was introduced. This established a temporary Board of Health in Dublin. Continues -
Year Three of Potato Blight
January: Lord John Russell suggested removing the remaining duties on corn to bring prices down. The government announced a major policy change. Soup kitchens would be opened. In the long term, public works would no longer be used to provide relief. Instead, the Poor Law would be extended, putting more responsibility on localities. The government was receiving more than 100 reports per day of starvation deaths. Deaths in workhouses had reached 2700 a week. Continued. -
Year Four of Potato Blight
February: By the first week of this month, 445,456 people were receiving outdoor relief.
March: Commissioners suspended outdoor relief to the able-bodied in 24 unions to encourage labourers to return to the soil and produce a bigger harvest. By this time, 200,000 children were receiving relief from their schools via the British Relief Association. The British Relief Association agreed to make this relief contingent on parents working on the land. Continued. -
Year Five of Potato Blight
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. Continued. -
Final Year of Potato Blight
April: The Waterford union was forced to repay their debts. They had been refusing, as paying the debts would have meant they could not meet current expenditure. Conditions at the Castlebar union were said to be severe enough to endanger life.
August: A healthy harvest was raised with isolated instances of blight. -
First Census Since the Blight
A census showed that the Irish population had fallen from 8,175,124 people to 6,552,385 from 1841 as a result of mortality and emigration. It was estimated that if the famine had not occurred, the number of people living in Ireland would have been more than nine million.