There once was a jolly fellow with a red nose who lived in London; historical documents mention something about a certain "S. Clause." Then, in 1833, he and his mates disappeared without a trace. Finding out what happened to him has something to do with the environmental history of the Industrial Revolution, and with heroic efforts to restore the River Thames to its former glory.

Listen and you’ll discover hordes of angry servants—who may have never existed in the first place. Find out why London was so stinky. Hear the actual words of a small-town vicar who was extra. And contemplate the least effective public health poster campaign in history.

This episode is a continuation of the previous episode called “History Is in Your Nature—and Vice-Versa,” but feel free to start with this one and you’ll be fine.

Learn more about this rogue, underdog, Hail Mary pass of a project at findyourselfinhistory.com !

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Thanks for listening! To learn more about this history project, check out findyourselfinhistory.com.