Historical Famine in Ireland Led to Mass Emigration and Deaths in 1847
The tragic events of 1847 at Grosse Île are directly linked to the Great Irish Famine, a pivotal and traumatic period in Irish history. During this decade, Ireland's population decreased by over 2 million people; half succumbed to hunger, disease, and malnutrition, while the other half emigrated. The Great Famine, which spanned from 1845 to 1848-1849, reached its peak in 1847. At the port of Quebec and Grosse Île, the situation became dire as over 100,000 immigrants had to be accommodated in a single season, a significant increase from the average of 25,000 to 30,000 in previous years. These immigrants, predominantly Irish and already weakened by malnutrition and famine, were crammed onto unsanitary sailing ships unfit for human transport. They arrived in deplorable conditions, many suffering from typhus, which rapidly escalated into an epidemic. In 1847, 398 ships were inspected at Grosse Île, and 441 were registered in Quebec, with 77 carrying over 400 passengers each. Liverpool was the primary departure...