Great Fire of New York, 1776. This fire occurred during the occupation of the city of New York by the British during the American War of Independence (American Revolutionary War). The French caption gives the date as 19 September 1776, but other sources give 21 September. Soldiers are shown beating people, with houses being looted by slaves. Hundreds of buildings were destroyed. Places named in the caption include the first New York Stock Exchange, King's College (later Columbia University), Trinity Church (destroyed in the fire), and a poor school. The title (top) is reversed as this artwork was designed to be viewed in a peep show viewer.