There have been myths and legends throughout history of a pig-faced woman, usually an upper class lady, with the underlying curse of greed. But in London in 1815, a rumored sighting of a woman in a carriage with a pig's face blew up into a what we would call a viral sensation today. Many newspapers of the time didn't distinguish between fact and fiction, and printed what would sell newspapers. The stories led many Londoners to peer into the faces of people on the streets trying to find the pig-faced woman. Personal ads were submitted from people who wanted to meet her, work for her, or even marry her. The story inspired art and fictional publications as well.
Not all the newspaper stories fed the rumor. The Times tried to bring people to their senses with an article that stated, “Our rural friends hardly know what idiots London contains.” It took months for the story to die down, but even afterward, fairs and carnivals managed to draw people in to see the pig-faced lady. Read about the most sensational London story of 1815 at Atlas Obscura.
(Image source: Wellcome Images)