This Day in History: 1620-10-21

Birthday of John Evelyn

Author in 1661 of “Fumifugium, or the Inconvenience of the Aer and Smoake of London Dissipated.” The book described air pollution in London and proposed remedies, including large public parks and lots of flowers.

“The immoderate use of, and indulgence to, sea-coale in the city of London exposes it to one of the fowlest inconveniences and reproaches that can possibly befall so noble and otherwise incomparable City… Whilst they are belching it forth their sooty jaws, the City of London resembles the face rather of Mount Aetna, the Court of Vulcan… or the suburbs of Hell [rather] than an assembly of rational creatures…”

In his diary, Evelyn writes in 1684 that smoke was so severe “hardly could one see across the street, and this filling the lungs with its gross particles exceedingly obstructed the breast, so as one would scarce breathe.”