Tambora volcano on Indonesia's Sumbawa Island. NASA Landsat7 image (worldwind.arc.nasa.gov) Public Domain.
On April 5, 1815 Mount Tambora on the Indonesian island of Sumbawa exploded in the largest volcanic eruption in recorded history. So much ash and smoke were shot into the atmosphere that it cooled the entire planet.
10,000 people were killed almost instantly and an estimated 82,000 died of starvation and disease throughout the region in the following months.
In England, the following year was known as “the year without a summer.”
Weather patterns worldwide were dramatically affected over the next 3 years.
Sources:
Volcano: Tambora- Science Museum of Virginia
The Eruption of Mount Tambora (1815-1818)- Climate in Arts and History, Smith College