Volcano on St Vincent

The volcanic eruption of Mount Soufriére on the island of St Vincent in May 1812 was important enough to inspire JMW Turner to depict it in this painting. It was based on a sketch made by Hugh P Keane. The eruption took place at midnight on 30 April/1 May, and according to Wetherall’s regimental history it caused a 6 hour period of total darkness experienced by the men on board the ship approaching Barbados 100 miles away. Presumably it was a clear moonlit night prior to the eruption.