Update: We revisited this subject in Episode 75, with better audio, better research, and better storytelling. You should listen to that one instead!
How did early Boston “celebrate” on November 5th each year? By drinking, brawling, and burning effigies of the Pope, of course. Listen to this week’s episode to find out more!
Remember remember the fifth of November
- The image above is from an original broadside about Pope’s Day published in Boston in 1768, entitled “Extraordinary Verses on Pope-Night.“
- The first in a series about Pope’s Night 1765, by JL Bell.
- On November 5, 1775, George Washington issued orders to his troops around Boston that put an end to Pope’s Day forever.
This Week in History
- On October 31, 1775, Josiah Quincy wrote to George Washington with a plan to block Boston Harbor with sunken ships.
- Quincy quotes John Adams as saying, “I have carefully compared your description of Squantum, the Moon, Long-Island, Gallop’ s Island, Lovel’ s Island and George’ s, the Narrows, and Nantasket Road, with ‘A Plan of the Town and Chart of the Harbour of Boston, exhibiting a View of the Islands, Castle Fort, and Entrances into the said Harbour,’ which was published in London last February.” That map is pictured above.
Interesting.