- Home /
- celtic calendar /
- 6 /
- June 16 /
- June 16, 1721
During a Trial in the Court of Kings Bench, Dublin, Panick to All the People Who Crowded to Get Out
← Previous
Tobias Smollett, novelist, born
Next →
Charles Leslie, Irish controversialist, dies

Panic in the Court of King’s Bench, Dublin, as a neighbouring chimney catches fire, sending a thick cloud of smoke billowing into the courtroom. The incident caused widespread alarm among those present, as smoke quickly filled the chamber and spectators scrambled to escape, fearing a greater conflagration.
While the fire itself remained contained, the chaos it triggered highlights both the crowded conditions of courtrooms at the time and the ever-present fire hazards in 18th- and 19th-century urban Dublin. No serious injuries were reported, but the scene was described as one of confusion and near-stampede.