Then, Mary started working for a wealthy New York banker, Elliot Warren. Six of eleven household members developed the same fever. This wasn’t any fever - it was Typhoid.
The Breezer - the joyride for a curious mind: A weekly newsletter from Steve Winduss at the Batting the Breeze podcast. Spend a few minutes with me discovering historical snippets and fascinating facts related to the forthcoming week. Add to that updates relating to the podcast, a touch of humour and a dash of "lots more".23rd March 2025.
Happy Sunday! It hardly seems possible that Boris Johnson announced the first UK lockdown for COVID-19 five years ago today, 23 March 2020. The lockdown was observed immediately, though only legally enforceable three days later. Countries around the world chose their own flavour of COVID-19 management. Most countries in Europe opted for full lockdown around the same time as the UK. The day after Boris’ announcement, India imposed a strict lockdown with only four hours’ notice, while South East Asia largely relied on national guidance. In Australia, lockdown was also ordered in March, although the conditions varied from state to state. New Zealand announced a lockdown on the same day as Boris, but went a stage further and tried to eliminate COVID-19 altogether. While this wasn’t achieved, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern received much acclaim for the process adopted. In the United States, lockdown strategies were determined by individual states. Canada declared a public health emergency, with individual provinces and territories implementing measures. Some countries in South America enforced full lockdowns while others chose softer partial lockdowns or relied on national recommendations. In Africa, ten of the 54 countries and two territories imposed full lockdowns, with most opting for localised restrictions.
Harrods department store, Brompton Road, Knightsbridge, London, during COVID-19 lockdown, 2020.
In the UK, the next three months of lockdown revised definitions of the ‘haves’ and ‘have-nots’. At my home on the South Coast of England, there were five of us, all of working age. The atmosphere was quiet and calm. We worked through the day, individually and in our own space. Luckily, we were blessed with an unusually warm run of weather. Each evening, we gathered on the patio and sipped beer, wine and Aperol spritz. We chatted about anything and everything. It was a magical period. We were the haves. Elsewhere in Britain, young children wondered why they couldn’t hug their grandparents or play with their friends. Low-income families worried about money. Parents of young children learned to balance work, home-schooling, entertainment and general family living. Often, this was achieved in the confines of urban, high-rise tenement blocks with no gardens. They were the have-nots. It all seems like a very long time ago.
COVID-19 humour, English pub chalkboard, 2020.
Mary Mallon was born in 1869 in Cookstown, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. In the 1870s and 80s, poverty was still widespread across Ireland. The residual effects of the 1845-52 Irish Potato Famine were still evident. Like many of her compatriots, Mary sought a better life. In 1884, at the age of 15, she emigrated to the United States. She took up domestic positions within wealthy families. A few years into her new life, Mary was delighted to establish herself as a cook. Working conditions and compensation improved, and the work was more rewarding. However, this move would lead to outcomes that no one could have imagined, not least Mary herself. Within two weeks of a new posting in Mamaroneck, New York in 1900, many of the residents became ill with fever. A year later, Mary moved to a home in Manhattan and most of the family developed a fever and diarrhoea. Further moves triggered similar results. People became ill when Mary appeared. Then, Mary started working for a wealthy New York banker, Elliot Warren. Six of eleven household members developed the same fever. Warren wanted answers, so he commissioned sanitary engineer George Soper to investigate. This wasn’t any fever - it was Typhoid. Typhoid fever is a bacterial infection caused by the Salmonella Typhi bacteria. Symptoms include high fever, headaches, stomach pains, constipation and diarrhoea, which can lead to severe complications and - in 15% of cases at that time - death.
Mary Mallon in isolation, 1909.
Soper studied the water supply, soil and food sourcing. He considered Mary’s hygiene and cooking practices. He didn’t find the smoking gun he was searching for. But when Soper studied Mary’s employment history, the fog started to clear. The problem wasn’t the methodology that Mary followed when cooking. The problem was Mary herself. The question was, “What was causing Mary to bring so much misery to so many with whom she came into contact?” Soper submitted his findings to the authorities. In March 1907, Ms Mallon was arrested on the grounds of a threatening public health. She was detained against her will at Willard Market Hospital for testing. The tests revealed massive quantities of Salmonella Typhi bacteria in her stool samples. Mary Mallon was the first known asymptomatic carrier of the typhoid bacteria in the United States. After three years of detention on North Brother Island, Mary was released on the understanding that she would no longer seek work as a cook.
Mary Mallon (centre) in quarantine, North Brother Island, c1910.
Stubbornly, Mary rejected all notions that she carried the disease. So, she chose to ignore the conditions of her release and found regular work as a cook under various pseudonyms. Once again, people close to Mary got sick with Typhoid. When two people died from the infection, George Soper was once again deployed to investigate. He recognised Mary as the culprit through samples of her handwriting. One hundred and ten years ago this Thursday, 27 March 1915, Mary Mallon was returned to North Brother Island. Typhoid Mary would remain on the island for the rest of her life. She died in 1938. Mallon was 69 years old, having spent 26 of those years in quarantine. Typhoid Mary’s personal story was certainly one of great misfortune. But her legacy would spark a debate about the rights of the individual versus the need to manage public health. What rights do authorities have to deny personal freedoms? Who decides who should be detained? Mary was a law-abiding citizen. This was a trial without a jury. Other more wealthy folk carried Salmonella Typhi, yet remained free in the community. In Mary’s case, her poor Irish background, resistance to detention and refusal to have her gall bladder removed all seemed to work against her. Regardless of that, Mary Mallon would be remembered as Typhoid Mary, the woman who spread disease and misfortune to everyone she encountered.
Typhoid Mary poster, first appeared in the New York American, 1909.
When democratic governments around the world wrestled with the prospect of lockdowns to mitigate the effects of COVID-19 five years ago, the story of Typhoid Mary wouldn’t have been too far from their thoughts. It will be interesting to see if world authorities take a different view on individual rights when the next pandemic strikes.
Dates with History
Wednesday… In Sydney, Australia, the need for a bridge spanning from the central business district to the North Shore had been identified as far back as 1815. However, it wasn’t until the Sydney Harbour Bridge Act of 1922 that construction of a bridge was authorised. The first foundation stone of one of the southern abutments of the Sydney Harbour Bridge was laid 100 years ago this Wednesday, 26 March 1925. This moment marked the start of the construction of the actual bridge itself. Sydney Harbour Bridge opened seven years later and has been one of Sydney’s iconic landmarks ever since.
Sydney Harbour Bridge under construction, 1930.
Thursday… James VI of Scotland added the title James I of England to his credits when Queen Elizabeth I died on 24 March 1603. Elizabeth died unmarried and without children. It was one of those awkward moments in the succession of the English crown - no heir. James’ mother, Mary Queen of Scots, had been implicated in a plot to remove Elizabeth from the throne. The Queen ordered Mary's execution, a decision she regretted even before the axe fell. Despite this, James VI of Scotland would become England’s first monarch from the House of Stuart, uniting England and Scotland (always tricky, even today). James possessed three critical advantages that advanced his claim to the English throne: he was a Protestant at a time when Catholic Europe was trying to re-exert its authority over England; he was no stranger to the role, i.e. he knew how to be a king, and most importantly of all, there wasn’t anybody else.
King James I of England and VI of Scotland, c1622.
James I’s early reign was characterised by two significant events. Firstly, the failed Gunpowder Plot of 1605 occurred on his watch, when gunpowder stockpiled underneath the Houses of Parliament was intended to obliterate everyone in the House of Lords above. Secondly, he had granted the Virginia Company of London a charter to establish colonial settlements in America. The first settlers landed at Jamestown, Virginia in 1606. Finally, he commissioned the King James Version of the Bible in 1611, which referred to the ‘divine right of Kings’. This was the straw that broke the camel’s back for some Midlands-based Puritans who believed that Church of England doctrine looked a little too… Catholic. After repeated persecution, the Pilgrim Fathers left for America, landing initially at Providence Harbor, Cape Cod, in late 1620, before moving on to establish a colony at Plymouth, Massachusetts. The remainder of James I’s reign was a relatively calm and prosperous period. In his final years, James had been in poor health. He was eventually beaten by a bout of dysentery and died 400 years ago this Thursday, 27 March 1625. On the same day, his son Charles ascended to the throne. Charles would become the first English King to be legally executed 24 years later.
The Mayflower drops anchor in Plymouth Harbour, Massachusetts, 1620. Painting by William Halsall, 1882.
Out of Curiosity… Last week, I mentioned author Mary Ann Evans, who published her work under the pseudonym - George Eliot. Mary Ann Evans was born 75,000 days ago this Wednesday, 22 November 1819.
By the Way
Last Monday, the sole remaining pilot from the Battle of Britain, Group Captain John ‘Paddy’ Hemingway, passed away at the age of 105. The Battle of Britain was an early and critical British defense against Nazi Germany between July and October 1940. Failure would have paved the way for a German land invasion of Britain. Though overwhelmingly outnumbered, the RAF dealt a crushing blow to the Luftwaffe, securing a decisive victory. The Nazis planned invasion of Britain, Operation Sea Lion, was scrapped. Hemingway flew Hurricanes and Spitfires. He was shot down four times and received the Distinguished Flying Cross for bravery. As Winston Churchill said in the House of Commons in August 1940 when the battle was at its peak…
Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.
Group Captain John ‘Paddy’ Hemingway celebrating his 105th birthday.
This week marks the anniversary of the death of another WWII RAF pilot whose name still reverberates today, particularly in rugby union circles. Prince Alexander Sergeevich Obolensky was born in 1916, destined to lead a short, but extraordinary, life. The Rurikid dynasty stretched back to the 9th century, with the Obolensky line originating from Obolensk, near Moscow. When Tsar Nicholas II was deposed in the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917, communist rule descended under Vladimir Lenin. The Obelensky family was forced to flee Russia. They settled in Muswell Hill, London. England would be Alexander Obolensky’s new home. Fast forward 18 years. The athletic Obolensky had demonstrated a natural talent for rugby union. Controversially, he was picked for the England team, despite not yet obtaining British citizenship. In January 1936, The Flying Slav made his debut against the mighty New Zealand All Blacks. The 19-year-old Oxford University student scored two tries which led to a great England victory.
Prince Alexander Obolensky, c1940.
Obolensky’s first try is sometimes referred to as ‘the greatest ever English try’, although that claim seems to me to be a little generous. Perhaps it was the greatest at the time. Take a look here and see what you think. Sadly, the story wouldn’t have a happy ending. With the declaration of war in 1939, Obolensky immediately joined RAF 504 Squadron from the Auxiliary Service, flying Hawker Hurricanes. He had joined at the time of an eight-month lull, referred to as the Phoney War. This was the period between the declaration of war and Germany’s invasion of France in May 1940. Britain and Germany were at war but, from a British mainland viewpoint, nothing had yet materialised. Life - and sport - carried on as usual. Obo had received a recall to the England team on 28 March 1940, having fought to regain his place since that extraordinary first international season. The following day, 85 years ago next Saturday, 29 March 1940, Obolensky was landing his Hurricane at the RAF airfield Martlesham Heath, when he overshot the runway and was killed outright. He was 24 years old. Although Obolensky had been denied the opportunity to establish his reputation in the Battle of Britain four months later, his death nonetheless had a profound effect on the nation. The Flying Prince had fled Russia, represented his adopted country with distinction and when asked to put his life on the line for that country, did so without hesitation. In this time of war, he was a symbol of sacrifice and heroism.
The plaque under the statue of Prince Obolensky, Cromwell Square, Ipswich.
The English rugby fraternity was most affected by Obolensky's death. His England captain on that magical debut day in 1936, Bernard Gadney, visited his grave in Ipswich every year up until his own death in 2000. Prince Obolensky is still celebrated today in every corner of Twickenham Stadium, the home of English rugby, where he had slayed the All Blacks 89 years ago.
Question of the Week
The Book of Mormon went on sale at E.B. Grandin’s bookstore in Pamyra, New York, 195 years ago this Wednesday, 26 March 1830. Two weeks later, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was ‘organised’ in Fayette, Seneca County, New York. In the UK, recognition of the terms LDS Church and Mormon were boosted with the arrival of the hit musical The Book of Mormon when it opened in London in 2013. While the show is popular as much for its profanity as its music*, the LDS Church strategically decided to embrace the show rather than fight against it. The LDS Church even buys ad space in show programmes proclaiming, “You’ve seen the play, now read the book”. Who wrote the original Book of Mormon in 1830?
Book of Mormon musical, Prince of Wales Theatre, London.
*I’m going to the Prince of Wales Theatre next month to see the Book of Mormon musical. I’ll let you know how I get on.
Out of Curiosity…
Let’s suppose for a moment that your last name is Caesar. You’re expecting your first child and are discussing suitable first names with your partner. What’s the one name you would probably avoid? Well, English couple Benjamin and Anne Caesar weren’t going to let a small historical detail influence the name of their newborn. Julius Caesar was born 185 years ago this Tuesday, 25 March 1830*. Julius turned out to be an excellent cricketer, representing England several times between 1853 and 1858. And when it was Julius’ turn to bestow a first name on his one-and-only child… …William. *Julius was born the day before the Book of Mormon was published. Oh, and another thing, Anne's maiden name was 'Bowler'.
And Finally…
On the day that the last Nazi V-1 flying bomb dropped out of the sky poetically close to a sewage farm in Datchworth, north of London, towards the end of World War II, a Hollywood great was being rewarded for his military service 100 miles up the road at Hethel, near Norwich. James Stewart was already an A-list Hollywood star when he enlisted in the US Army Air Corps in 1941. Jimmy’s first hit film had been ’You Can’t Take it with You’ (1938), followed by ‘Mr. Smith Goes to Washington’ (1939). He received an Academy Award for Best Actor for ‘The Philadelphia Story’ (1940). On 22 March 1941, he became the first Hollywood star to enlist in the military in the build-up to WWII. Many great names would follow, such as Clark Gable, Henry Fonda, Kirk Douglas and Paul Newman. Stewart did not hesitate when he learned he was to be stationed at RAF Tibenham in England in November 1943, assigned to the 703rd Bomb Squadron. Flying B-24 Liberators, Stewart completed numerous dangerous missions over Nazi Germany. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal and Croix de Guerre for his outstanding service during the war. Eighty years ago this Saturday, 29 March 1945, James Stewart was promoted to full colonel. He had risen from the rank of Private within four years. This meteoric rise wasn’t unique, but it was certainly rare.
James Stewart, USAF, c1960s
After the war, Jimmy Stewart managed to combine ongoing military service with his successful film career. He remained active in the Air Force Reserve for 27 years until he retired in 1968. At the same time, he starred in a further 51 films, including the classic ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ (1946), ‘The Glenn Miller Story’ (1954) and ‘Vertigo’ (1958). James Stewart was very popular in the UK. One of my all-time favourite films was the original version of The Flight of the Phoenix (1965). I was a little young in 1965, but it was repeated throughout the seventies and eighties. Stewart is a pilot who is forced to crash land his plane in the Sahara Desert. One of the passengers is a model-plane designer and convinces Stewart that they can cobble together a smaller working aircraft from the bits of the original one. Stewart then successfully flies everyone to safety just in time to avoid a mass of marauding Arabs on horseback chasing after them. Classic. James Stewart retired from acting in 1991 and passed away in 1997. A true all-American hero.
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Steve
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Question of the week… answer
Joseph Smith wrote the Book of Mormon, published around the tenth anniversary of his ‘First Vision’. Members of the LDS Church consider the First Vision to be the foundational event of the movement. Smith claimed that the Book of Mormon was a translation of original text from ancient prophets. Today, it is published in at least 150 countries worldwide.
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