Harsh Mistress (Delphine LaLaurie)

On April 10th 1834 a fire broke out at 1140 Royal Street in the city of New Orleans. The estates mistress, local socialite Delphine Lalaurie was attempting to retrieve her most valuable possession in a hysterical daze. Meanwhile, a crowd had formed to behold the spectacle, and sensing nothing had been done to stop it, they sprang into action. Soon the police and fire department arrived, and what they discovered in that house would go down as one of the most gruesome scenes in US history. The actions carried out by Madame Delphine therein haunt the land underneath her historic manse to this very day. This week we explore cruelty, entitlement, the history of the enslaved people of Louisiana, and just for good measure, the youngest doctor ever.    Click to learn more WWBD Merch Buy your WWBD swag here!  Join the Conversation