Witnessing the Irish potato famine

In 1850 Joseph visited Ireland with his father and they witnessed the starvation and destitution caused by the Great Famine which occurred between 1845 and 1852. The famine, arising from infection of the potato crop caused by blight, led to mass deaths and emigrations and constituted a social crisis which has had a major impact on Irish society and history. This experience made a lasting impression on Joseph who continued to wrestle with the causes of poverty for the rest of his life. Joseph’s brother, John Stephenson, drew this map of the route they took.