The Great Plague

The Great Plague, which occurred from 1665 to 1666, was the last major outbreak of the bubonic plague in England. It primarily affected London, killing an estimated 100,000 people—about a quarter of the city's population at the time. The disease, caused by the bacteria Yersinia pestis, was spread through fleas on rats. Symptoms included painful swollen lymph nodes, fever, and chills. The outbreak led to significant social upheaval, as fear and quarantine measures disrupted daily life. The Great Plague ultimately ended in 1666, coinciding with the Great Fire of London, which helped eradicate the rat population.