The Irish Famine occurred between 1846-1852, where over one million Irish people died from starvation or epidemic disease. The primary cause of the famine stemmed from the fungus Phytophthora infestans referred to as “the blight”, which effectively destroyed potato crops- the source of 60% of food needs in Ireland. Subsequently, more than two million people fled Ireland as refugees while over a million more died either from starvation or malnutrition related diseases. During the food shortage, the effects of the famine were worsened by the increasing grain exports, as Ireland continued to export grain to England and other foreign countries despite their own people completely lacking food supply. Others have blamed the political apathy by the British government and public, who did not step in to properly distribute food during 1846-1847 as prejudice against Irish Catholics persisted at the time. Mill argues that the rural parts of Ireland should have been converted to peasant properties, and the year he was writing about (1847) would go one to become known as the Black ‘47, the most horrific year of the famine.
Source:
Donnelly, Jim. “History - British History in Depth: The Irish Famine.” BBC, BBC, 17 Feb. 2011, www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/victorians/famine_01.shtml.