A pyrotechnic display was arranged in St James’ Park (now Green Park) in London on 27 April 1749 to celebrate the Peace of Aix-la-Chapelle, signed between Britain and France in October the previous year.
A huge temporary structure (scaffold) was built from which to launch the fireworks, and Handel’s ‘Music for the Royal Fireworks’ was specially composed to accompany the spectacular.
In advance of the event, there were widely circulated concerns about public safety.