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Death By Fire and Ice: The Steamboat Lexington Calamity
April 20, 2023 @ 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Hear author Brian E. O’Connor speak on his latest book “Death by Fire and Ice,” which recounts the tragic sinking of the steamboat Lexington on Long Island Sound in 1840. With the loss of nearly all passengers and crew, it was the most devastating maritime disaster in the history of the Sound. O’Connor will delve into the aftermath of the tragedy, including the public’s demand for better steamboat safety regulations and the difficult choices Congress faced in balancing cargo liability with passenger safety.
This is a talk you won’t want to miss!
About the Author
Brian E. O’Connor is a retired lawyer and author originally from Brooklyn, New York. He earned a bachelor’s degree in government and politics with magna cum laude honors from St. John’s University, as well as a Juris Doctor degree from St. John’s University School of Law, where he also served as the publications editor of the Law Review. O’Connor began his legal career as a clerk on the New York Court of Appeals before joining a prominent Wall Street law firm, where he specialized in complex commercial litigation for 38 years. He eventually retired as the firm’s General Counsel in 2017. O’Connor currently resides with his wife and two Portuguese water dogs on Eaton’s Neck in Northport, New York.