🔥 This Week In History - The Great Chicago Fire

Welcome back History Nerds,

What a wild week in history it was, the Great Chicago Fire, the death of legendary Roman poet Virgil, and the birth of the U.S. Naval Academy. Strap in and make sure you read until the end because this week’s edition of the LOL History Newsletter is packed full of information. Pour yourself up a big cup of coffee and enjoy!

Did You Know? On April 2, 1877, a New York man became the first person ever arrested for speeding on a horse-drawn carriage. He was going 8 miles per hour through Manhattan, which was considered dangerously fast at the time. The officer had to chase him down on foot and gave him a stern warning about reckless driving. So yes, speeding tickets existed before cars did.

During Your History Lesson You’ll Learn About:

• The Women’s March on Versailles

• The Great Chicago Fire Turns a City to Ash

• Virgil Dies, Aeneas Lives: The Poet Who Shaped the West

• The Birth of the U.S. Naval Academy

Marching for Bread: The Women of Paris Rise Up

On October 5, 1789, thousands of women from Paris, frustrated by food shortages and high bread prices, marched to the Palace of Versailles. Armed with makeshift weapons, they demanded immediate relief and political reforms from King Louis XVI. Their anger stemmed from widespread hunger and the monarchy's indifference. The protest soon grew into a powerful demonstration that couldn’t be ignored.

The women’s march forced the royal family to leave Versailles and move to Paris under close public scrutiny. This unprecedented action shifted the balance of power, symbolizing the people’s ability to directly influence the monarchy. It marked a turning point in the French Revolution, intensifying demands for equality and accountability. The king’s relocation was not just physical—it was political, as revolutionary fervor surged in Paris. 

The Great Chicago Fire Turns a City to Ash

On October 8, 1871, flames erupted in a small barn owned by Patrick and Catherine O’Leary on Chicago’s southwest side. Within hours, that spark became one of the most devastating fires in American history. Fueled by wooden buildings, dry weather, and strong winds, the blaze tore through Chicago, leaping streets and rivers like it was alive. For two straight days, the fire burned out of control, leveling more than 17,000 buildings, leaving 100,000 people homeless, and killing about 300.

The story goes that Mrs. O’Leary’s cow kicked over a lantern, starting the inferno. It’s a tale every kid in Chicago grew up hearing, but historians have long doubted it. Whether it was a cow, a careless smoker, or pure bad luck, the truth is no one really knows how it began. What’s certain is that when it was over, one-third of Chicago lay in ruins, glowing red in the ashes of what was once one of America’s fastest-growing cities.

But Chicago didn’t stay down for long. Within days, rebuilding began, and out of the destruction rose a city stronger, taller, and more ambitious than ever. The fire didn’t just reshape Chicago’s skyline; it changed how cities were built across the country, ushering in modern fire codes, steel structures, and urban planning. The Great Chicago Fire was a disaster but it also sparked the rebirth of a modern American city.

The Aeneid Lives On: Virgil’s Lasting Legacy

On September 21, 19 BC, the renowned Roman poet Virgil died in the port city of Brundisium. Best known for The Aeneid, his epic poem traced the mythical origins of Rome through the hero Aeneas. Virgil spent over a decade perfecting the work, intending it to glorify Rome’s imperial destiny. Ironically, he requested the manuscript be destroyed, but Emperor Augustus preserved it.

The Aeneid became a cornerstone of Western literature, shaping Roman identity and influencing countless generations of writers. Blending myth, history, and propaganda, it celebrated Roman virtues like duty, sacrifice, and piety. Virgil’s death marked not just the loss of a great poet, but the beginning of his literary immortality. His work echoed through medieval, Renaissance, and modern thought, securing his place in the literary canon.

The Birth of the U.S. Naval Academy

On October 10, 1845, George Bancroft, the U.S. Secretary of the Navy (and a historian, because why not), founded the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. Before that, training Navy officers was a bit of a mess midshipmen learned most of their skills at sea, often through trial, error, and the occasional cannon blast. Bancroft wanted something better. His vision was a place where young sailors could study math, navigation, engineering, and naval strategy before setting foot on a ship.

The academy started small just 50 midshipmen and seven professors but it quickly became the foundation of America’s naval excellence. Here, cadets didn’t just learn how to command a ship; they learned how to lead with discipline and integrity. Over the decades, the academy has produced some of the Navy’s most legendary figures, including Admiral Chester Nimitz and Jimmy Carter, who went from midshipman to president.

Nearly two centuries later, the U.S. Naval Academy still stands as one of the world’s premier military institutions. Its graduates have commanded fleets, explored space, and defended freedom across the globe. From sailing wooden warships to operating nuclear submarines, the academy’s mission hasn’t changed to forge leaders ready to face any storm.

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See You Next Time!

We hope that you enjoyed this edition of the LOL History newsletter! See you next week!

— Evan & Derek - LOL History Co-Founders