1872Nov, 9
The Great Boston Fire of 1872.
The Great Boston Fire of 1872 was Boston's largest fire, and still ranks as one of the most costly fire-related property losses in American history. The conflagration began at 7:20 p.m. on Saturday, November 9, 1872, in the basement of a commercial warehouse at 83–87 Summer Street. The fire was finally contained 12 hours later, after it had consumed about 65 acres (26 ha) of Boston's downtown, 776 buildings and much of the financial district, and caused $73.5 million in damage (equivalent to $1.453 billion in 2020). The destruction to the buildings was valued at $13.5 million and the personal property loss was valued at $60 million. In the end, at least 30 people died, including 12 firefighters.
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Events on 1872
- 5Mar
Railway air brake
George Westinghouse patents the air brake. - 22Mar
Gender equality
Illinois becomes the first state to require gender equality in employment. - 22May
Amnesty Act
Reconstruction Era: President Ulysses S. Grant signs the Amnesty Act into law, restoring full civil and political rights to all but about 500 Confederate sympathizers. - 18Nov
United States presidential election, 1872
Susan B. Anthony and 14 other women are arrested for illegal voting in the United States presidential election of 1872. - 9Dec
P. B. S. Pinchback
In Louisiana, P. B. S. Pinchback becomes the first African-American governor of a U.S. state.