Catherine O’Leary

Catherine O’Leary

unknown United States

Catherine O'Leary was an Irish immigrant and the owner of the barn where the Great Chicago Fire is believed to have started on the night of October 8, 1871. According to popular lore, a cow she was milking kicked over a lantern, igniting a fire that rapidly spread through the wooden structures of Chicago, leading to widespread devastation, loss of life, and homelessness. Despite her association with the tragedy, many historians argue that the fire's origins were more complex and that she was unjustly blamed for the disaster.

Global Media Ratings
Dominance
0.00%
Persistence
0 wks
Reach
7,708
Power
19$
Sentiment
5.00
Countries Mentioned
Country Mentions Sentiment Dominance + Persistence x Population = Reach x GDP (millions) = Power
Honduras 1 5.00 0.08% +0% 9,904,608 7,708 $25,000 19$
Totals 1 9,904,608 7,708 $25,000 19$
Interactive World Map

Each country's color is based on "Mentions" from the table above.

Recent Mentions

Honduras Honduras: Catherine O’Leary was milking her cow when a kerosene lamp was knocked over, igniting the Great Chicago Fire. 5

La Prensa – high-circulation Honduran daily: El poder de la Lengua