Great Storm of 1703

The Great Storm of 1703 was an extremely severe storm in almost all of Europe. He is considered the most severe storm that has the British Isles and the Channel ever happening. It lasted from 5 to December 13, 1703 (or 24 November to 2 December in 1703 the then in England nor Julian calendar ). Reached its climax in the storm on the night of 7 to December 8, 1703 (or, in the night of 26 on November 27, according to the Julian calendar). In the entire North Sea area it caused a severe storm surge. Overall, the storm 8000-15000 human lives, of which more than 1500 members of the Royal Navy.

Meteorological records in England

William Derham measure an air pressure of 973 millibars in the south of England, but could be the low pressure area in the Midlands have been reported only 950 millibars.

Damage in England

In London, the storm covered the roof of Westminster Abbey and Queen Anne had to take refuge in a basement to avoid falling down chimneys and roof parts in the St. James 's Palace.

To the west of the country, there was widespread prolonged flooding, especially in the vicinity of Bristol. The number of fallen oaks in the New Forest was given as 4000.

In Wells, the bishop Richard Kidder, and his wife were killed in their sleep, as two fireplaces in the palace collapsed back on itself and fell on her bed. The great western window of St. Andrew's Cathedral was destroyed by the storm partially.

The first Eddystone Lighthouse was 1703 ( Julian calendar) destroyed by the storm on 27 November, which six people lost their lives in it, including the builder Henry Winstanley.

On the Thames were in the pool of London - the portion below the London Bridge - around 700 vessels pushed together. The HMS Association was stripped from Harwich to Gothenburg in Sweden before she could make our way back to England.

• The Restoration, a two-decker under Captain Emms with 387 men on board, was lost on the Goodwin Sands; there were no survivors.
• The Northumberland, a two-decker under Captain Greenway was lost on the Goodwin Sands, 220 sailors drowned.
• The Stirling Castle, a two-decker under Captain Johnston, also was lost on the Goodwin Sands, 70 sailors were rescued, 206 were drowned.
• The Mary, a two-decker with Rear Admiral Beaumont on board under Captain Edward Hopson, on the Goodwin Sands, the captain and the cook were thrown ashore, a man could save himself, 269 men were drowned, including Admiral.
• The mortar -bomb, under Captain Raymond, ran on to the Goodwin Sands; All 65 crew members were killed.
• The Eagle under Captain Bostock was shipwrecked on the coast of Sussex; the 45 - member crew was saved.
• The resolution, a two-decker under Captain Lisle ran to the coast of Sussex; All 221 men on board survived.
• The Litchfield Prize under Captain Chamberlain was shipwrecked on the coast of Sussex; rescued all 108 sailors.
• The Newcastle, a two-decker under Captain Carter, was lost at Spithead. The carpenter and 39 other sailors survived, drowned the rest of 193 sailors.
• The Vesuvius went under Captain Paddon lost at Spithead; the 48 -strong crew was rescued.
• The reserve under Captain John Anderson was lost in Yarmouth. The captain, the ship's doctor, the purser and 44 more survived, the rest of the crew, 175 people, went down with the ship.
• The Vanguard, a three-decker, was drowned in the harbor of Chatham, without a crew or armament on board was.
• The York, a two- deck ship under Captain Smith went down at Harwich; up to four sailors escaped the occupation.

Daniel Defoe wrote about this event his first book, titled The Storm, which was released in July 1704. He described the storm as "the storm that trees and forests destroyed all over England ." Coastal towns such as Portsmouth " looked as if she had taken the enemy and [they] were horrible torn to pieces ."

Impact in Lower Germany

Full Lower Germany suffered from the hurricane, which reached its climax on December 8, 1703. In Oder thousands of trees were torn from the earth. Steeples were knocked over, the St. Lamberti in Lüneburg and the tower of St. Nicholas Church in Wismar.