01 Nov 1755: earthquake, tsunami crush Lisbon

On this day in 1755, an earthquake and tsunami combined to destroy two-thirds of Lisbon, Portugal. An estimated 60,000 persons died in the disaster.

Copper engraving, artist unknown. (Wikimedia Commons)

Some more details about the event:

• the earthquake is estimated at 8.5-9.0 on the Richter scale
• it took place on All Saints Day, when most citizens were in church
• residents rushed to the ‘safety’ of the waterfront, only to be crushed by a tsunami
• the event inspired the Voltaire tome Candide
  • the title character arrives in Lisbon just before the earthquake
  • its optimistic tone came from the survival of the Alfama area of the capital
• it seriously disrupted Portugal’s ambitions to build its empire