Great Fire of 1775 occurs.

May 17, 1775

The fire, which destroys a British barracks and some warehouses, reputedly starts due to careless handling of cartridges by a British soldier [spark from a candle-DD] in Dock Square. It destroys some 30 warehouses near the waterfront, as British troops refuse to let residents extinguish it.

Sources
  • Dain, Daniel
  • Philbrick, Nathaniel