1848. The first deposit of California gold made in the United States mint by David Carter.
1851. Battle of Longomilla, between the government troops of Chili under general Bulnes, late president, and the rebels under general Cruz, who was defeated and his troops dispersed.
1854. The immaculate conception of the Virgin Mary proclaimed by the pope, in St. Peter's church, Rome, as a dogma of the catholic faith.
493B. C.Menenius Agrippamet the plebeian seceders, encamped on the Mons Sacer, near Rome, and delivered to them there the memorable apologue of the belly and the members.
1150. A great frost in England mentioned by Matthew Paris, began on this day and continued about two months and ten days, so that "both foot and horse crossed the Thames." In that year all the prelates in council were shut up by king Stephen for refusing to crown his son; more remarkable for the appearance of Gratian's twenty-four years' labor, theDecretals.
1165.Malcolm IV, king of Scots, died of a lingering disease, at Jedburgh, after a short reign. His subjects were rebellious, but by his vigor he overcame them all.
1565.Pius IV(John Angelo de Medicis) died. He was not of the Florence family, but brother of the famous marquis de Marignan, and distinguished as an ambassador. He evinced his zeal for the church by his enmity against the Turks and heretics.
1641.Anthony Vandyck, the celebrated Dutch painter, died. He was a pupil of Rubens, and excelled his master in delicacy of coloring. His pictures preserve in high perfection the dress and costume of the times.
1669.Clement IX(Julius Rospigliosi) died of grief, at the loss of Candia, which was taken by the Turks. His reign was disturbed by the schisms of the Jansenists.
1674.Edward Hyde, lord of Clarendon, died at Rouen, in France, in exile. His name is immortalized by theHistory of the Rebellion, a splendid monument of his genius and impartiality, which he finished in exile.
1680. Comet seen at Albany.
1683.John Oldham, an eminent English poet, died of small pox. His genius lay chiefly in satire.
1694.Paul Signeridied at Rome; a theological writer, and a popular preacher and active missionary of the Jesuits.
1702.Haagen Swensdenexecuted for stealing and marrying Mrs. Pleasant Rawlins, an heiress.
1708.John Higginsondied; the first minister of Salem, Mass.
1788.Jonathan Shipley, bishop of St. Asaph, died. He was a distinguished prelate and eminent among his episcopal brethren for his firm and determinate opposition to the American war.
1798.John Reinhold Forster, an eminent English writer on natural history and philosophy, died at Halle, in Germany. He accompanied Cook in his second voyage round the world.
1804. The British under admiralPophamattacked fort Rouge at the entrance of Calais harbor with explosion vessels.
1808. The Chinese interdicted the English from trading until their soldiery were drawn from Macao.
1808. The British rejected the French and Russian proposals for peace.
1811. Americans under general Harrison left the battle ground at Tippecanoe, on their return to the United States.
1813. Battle on the Nieve, near Bayonne; the British under general Hope attacked the French under Soult, without obtaining any decisive advantage.
1814.Joseph Bramah, a very ingenious English engineer and mechanist, died.
1815. The exiled emperorNapoleon, took possession of the villa of Longwood. This year, at its dawn, found him sovereign of the little island of Elba; ere the vernal equinox he was again emperor of France; before the summer solstice he was finally defeated at Waterloo; the year closed over him a solitary exile.
1816. The bank of England commenced paying specie on one and two pound notes dated prior to 1812.
1824. Battle of Ayacucho, in Peru, between the royalists under La Serna, 9,310, and the patriots, 5,780, under Sucre, which terminated in the total defeat of the former, who lost 1800 killed, and their general taken prisoner. Loss of the patriots, 370 killed. This victory accomplished the delivery of Peru from the Spaniards.
1824.Jose La Serna, viceroy of Peru, wounded and taken prisoner at the battle of Ayacucho, which put an end to his authority in that state. He commenced his career in the artillery, and served at Saragossa under the celebrated Palafox. His skill in the art of war did not avail him against the determined bravery of the revolutionists.
1831. Disturbances in Ireland; the soldiers fired upon a mob of 2000 Irish; whereupon the mob rushed upon the soldiery and killed 19 out of 34.
1831.Ibrahim Pashacompletely defeated before St. Jean d'Acre.
1833.John Jebb, bishop of Limerick, died. He was an accomplished author, a learned theologian, and an amiable man. His publications, though not numerous, were of high merit.
1835. President's message reached Boston in 26 hours and 50 minutes from Washington. It was formerly announced as an instance of extraordinary speed that the message reached Boston in 64 hours. In 1841 the message reached New York in 8 hours 53 minutes, and probably was in Boston within another 8 hours. Dr. Franklin once expressed an opinion that the time would come when the mail might be conveyed from Philadelphia to Boston in a fortnight, andperhapsin a week. The regular time is now 24 hours.
1842.Samuel Woodworth, well known as an American poet, died in New York. He was the author of the popular song, theOld Oaken Bucket.
1850.Bem, the Hungarian general, died at Aleppo.
1853. The men and women of Harbor creek, near Erie, Pa., turned out in large numbers, tore up the rail road track, burnt the ties and bridges over the culvert, and plowed down the track to its former level.
1854. The king of the Sandwich islands to prevent the overthrow of his government by lawless violence, accepted the aid of the naval forces of the United States, Great Britain and France.
1856.Father Matthew, called the apostle of temperance, died at Cork, Ireland, aged 66. He devoted himself in early life to the regeneration of his countrymen among the poorer classes who had fallen under the tyranny of strong drink.
590B. C.The tenth day of the month Thanet was observed as a fast in memory of the investment of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar. Zechariah promised the extinction of this day of grief, in joy and feasting, upon the restoration of the house of Judah,B. C.518.
493B. C.The immortal day whentribunesfor the Roman people were first chosen; the anniversary also of their authority afterwards.
270B. C.Epicurus, the Athenian philosopher, died on the 10th day of Gamelion, having three days before observed his 71st anniversary. He taught a rational philosophy and with his disciples lived conformably to the rules of wisdom and frugality, although his name is unjustly associated with folly and feasting. His academy was the best regulated society that had ever been seen.
536. Rome opened her gates to Belisarius; the garrison departed without molestation along the Flaminian way, and the city, after sixty years of servitude, was delivered from the yoke of the barbarians. Leutherius, the Gothic chief, was sent to bear the keys of the city to his imperial master.
1282.Llewellyn ap Grufydd, a Welsh prince, killed. He heroically resisted the invasion of Edward I of England; but fell, and the liberty of his country perished with him after an independence of 800 years.
1506. Bologna captured by pope Julius I, who entered in triumph.
1508. The league of Cambray formed against the Venitian power. The pope, the emperor of Germany, and the kings of France and Spain, were the parties to it.
1520.Lutherdestroyed the papal bull against himself, with the works of the anti reformers, in a public fire behind the walls of Wittemberg.
1548. Battle of Pinckney field, nearMusselburgh, in which 13,000 of the Scots were slain.
1577. On Sanctobertis eve a great number of persons paraded the streets of Perth in disguise. One clad in the devil's coat; the horse of another walked in men's shoes.
1586.Elizabethsigned the warrant for the execution of Mary.
1626.Edmund Gunter, an English mathematician and astronomer, died. He distinguished himself by many important improvements in mathematical instruments for the use of navigation, &c.
1672. A monthly post established from New York to Boston.
1674.John Vaughan, an eminent English law reporter, died; "more admired for his talents than loved for his courteous manners."
1681. The British factor, captainDrew, arrived at Chester, on the river Delaware, from England, with settlers for Pennsylvania; they remained there all winter, the river having frozen over that night. She was one of the three ships that left England with the first settlers. One of them, the Amity, arrived before her; the third was blown off the coast to the West Indies, and did not arrive until the next spring.
1688.James IVdeserted the English throne, embarked for France, and ordered his army to be disbanded.
1697. The peace of Ryswick, which had been signed in September, proclaimed in Boston, and the colonies had repose from war. Some of the Indians continued their hostilities, but finding themselves unsupported by the French, they took measures for peace.
1697. The population of New France, exclusive of Acadie, was 8,515, and could arm about 1,000 men.
1747.Duncan Forbes, an eminent Scottish lawyer, died. He wrote chiefly on theological subjects.
1757. Breslau retaken from the Austrians by Frederick II of Prussia. The Austrians lost 13 generals and 18,000 men prisoners.
1768. The royal academy of London instituted.
1792.John Joseph Suedied; professor of anatomy at Paris, and a writer on anatomy and surgery.
1801.Jonathan Battishill, an eminent English musical composer, died. "To a profound knowledge he added great taste and a fine imagination."
1804. New York historical society instituted.
1807. Kingdom of Etruria dissolved and annexed to France.
1808.James Sullivan, governor of Massachusetts, died. He rose to great usefulness unaided by opulence or family connexions.
1809. Gerona in Spain surrendered to the French after a siege of six months.
1813. French underSoultendeavored to force the British under Wellington to repass the Nieve but were repulsed.
1813. The United States troops under general McClure burnt Newark adjoining fort George, destroyed that fort, removed the public stores, and retired to the south side of the Niagara river.
1817. Mississippi admitted into the confederacy.
1833. The house of assembly in Jamaica passed a bill for the abolition of slavery.
1834.Alexander Chalmersdied; one of the most eminent biographers that Great Britain has produced. He commenced a laborious literary life in London and no man, it is said, ever edited so many books for the booksellers. He published aGeneral Biographical Dictionaryin 32 volumes.
1835. The fortress of San Antonio surrendered by the Mexicans to the Texans under colonel Milan; the captors found 1900 rounds of powder and ball, 24 pieces of cannon, and a large amount of military stores, &c.
1836. A decree of the queen of Portugal published, abolishing the slave trade in the Portuguese dominions.
1842.Pleasant Henderson, a soldier of the revolution from North Carolina, died in Tennessee. He was a companion of Daniel Boone in many of his wanderings and was for more than thirty years a clerk of the North Carolina house of commons.
1842.Rowland Hill, viscount Hill, the well known coadjutor of the duke of Wellington in the peninsula campaigns, died in his 70th year, near Shrewsbury, England.
1845.Jesse D. Elliot, an American commodore, died at Philadelphia, aged 62. He contributed much to Perry's success on lake Erie.
1846.James Griersondied at Masharene, New Brunswick, aged 105. He was one of the loyalists that left the United States during the revolution.
1848.Louis Napoleonelected president of the French; 5,534,520 voting for him.
1852.William Empson, professor of law in the East India college at Hoxley, England, died, aged 62. He was editor of theEdinburgh Review.
1855. The emperorFaustin Ileft Port-au-Prince with 30,000 men to subjugate the Dominican republic; his forces were completely routed and dispersed.
361.Julian, the new emperor, made his triumphal entry into the eastern capital, having traversed with victory the whole continent of Europe, from the Atlantic.
1282.Michael VIII(Palæologus), emperor of Rome, died. He was regent of the eastern empire, and took advantage of his situation to assume the supreme power. He retook Constantinople, which had been 58 years under the power of the French, and labored to reconcile the eastern and western churches.
1595.Philippe de Croi, duke of Aarschot, died; a Flemish nobleman and general, who, in an attempt to free his country of Spanish dictation, was unsuccessful, and exiled.
1620. The Plymouth adventurers, having sounded the harbor, and found it fit for shipping, went ashore and explored the adjacent land, where they saw cornfields and brooks; and judging the situation to be convenient for a settlement, they returned with the welcome intelligence to the ship.
1652.Dionysius Petaviusdied; a French Jesuit of great erudition, and an author.
1657. Writs issued by Cromwell to sixty individuals, to meet at Westminister, and compose a house of lords.
1697.Joachim Kuhnius, a learned Pomeranian, died. He was principal of the college of Octigen, and acquired great celebrity by his publications.
1699. The king of Sweden defeated the Muscovites at Narva.
1704.Roger L'Estrange, an English gentleman and scholar, died. He was unsuccessful in his enterprises in favor of Charles I; but on the restoration he returned to England, and printed the first regular English newspaper, 1663, under the title of thePublic Intelligencer. He was the author of some political tracts, and translations from different languages.
1714.George I, and his cabinet, issued an order forbidding the clergy to meddle in their sermons with the affairs of state.
1718.Charles XII, of Sweden, killed; supposed to have been struck by a cannon ball in the trenches, at Frederickshall; a fortress which he was then besieging near the bay of Denmark.
1747.Edmund Curldied; one of the characters mentioned in Pope'sDunciad. His character for morality was not without blemish, and he was highly injurious to the literary world, in his profession of book maker and seller, by his piracies and forgeries. He lost his ears in the pillory, by sentence of the law, for issuing obscene publications.
1753. The dey of Algiers assassinated by a soldier, as he was distributing pay to about 300 in the court yard of his palace. The assassin seated himself in the chair of state, and was taking measures to secure his power, when he was shot with a carbine.
1756.Theodore Newhoff, king of Corsica, died in England, where he had been long confined in prison for debt.
1758. The old castle of the Douglasses, so famed in Scottish history, was accidentally burned to the ground.
1794. Assault on the works of Nijmegen, a strong city of Holland; general Bushe, of the allies, was killed by an 8lb. cannon ball.
1794. Battle of Roussilon; the Spaniards and Portuguese defeated the French, killed 800, took 600 prisoners, and 50 cannon.
1806. Saxony erected into a kingdom, under Frederick Augustus, by the treaty of Posen, between Bonaparte and the elector.
1807. The Dutch fleet burnt at Greisse, in Java, by the British squadron, under sir Edward Pellew.
1812. Wilna entered by the Russians, where they found vast magazines, 30 cannon, upwards of 5,000 in the hospitals, including some distinguished officers, and took about 10,000 prisoners.
1813. The French, underSoult, again repulsed in an attempt to force the British under lord Wellington to repass the Nieve.
1816. Indiana admitted as a new state into the Union of the United States.
1828.Berangerwas sentenced by the French court of correctional police, to pay 10,000 francs ($1,800) fine, and to undergo nine months' imprisonment, for having attacked the dignity of the church, and of the king, in his poems.
1656A. M.The rain of the deluge having ceased to fall, having continued 40 days, from the 17th of the 2d month, answering to our 2d Nov., q. v.
404B. C.Darius II(Nothus), king of Persia, died, after a reign of nineteen years, and was succeeded by Artaxerxes Mnemon, his son. Cyrus, the younger, another of his sons, carried on several successful wars during the reign of Darius.
1271.Richard, king of the Romans, died, at Berkhamstead, England.
1600.John Craig, a Scottish ecclesiastic, died. He was at first a Dominican, and by his talents recommended himself to cardinal Pole. But, becoming a heretic, narrowly escaped being burnt. He afterwards became the coadjutor of Knox, the great reformer.
1611.Thomas Sutton, a rich English bachelor, died. He was the founder of the Charter house.
1630.David Pieterszen de Vries, who had associated himself with Samuel Godyn, Kilian Van Rensselaer, Samuel Bloemart, and Jan de Laet, sailed from Texel for the South (Delaware) river, intending to plant a colony there. Godyn being informed that whales were plenty in those regions, and fish oil being 60 guilders the hogshead, the vessel was laden with utensils for fishing, and planters and cattle for the colony.
1653.Oliver Cromwelldeclared lord protector of England for life, and the same day dissolved the convention called Barebones's parliament, by the corporal of the guard and a file of soldiers.
1671.Vopiscus Fortunatus Polempius, a Dutch physician and professor at Louvain, died, leaving several valuable works.
1676.William Morice, a learned Englishman, died; secretary of state under Charles II.
1680. The extraordinary comet of this year observed throughout Britain.
1685.John Pelldied; an English divine, and very eminent mathematician.
1688.James II, of England, made his escape from London.
1731.John Horsleydied; author of a very learned and excellent work entitledBritannia Romana; being an ample account of the vestiges of the Romans in Britain.
1733. The bills of mortality in London this year, showed the death of 14,372 males, and 14,861 females.
1753. An act passed the provincial assembly, of New York, that mortgages should be subjected to public registry for the prevention of frauds. But this act, though a useful one, did not reach all the mischiefs intended to be prevented.
1757.Colley Cibber, poet laureate to George II, died. He was also a very noted comedian. He wrote a curious apology for his life.
1764.John Otho Tabordied at Frankfort. He was a native of Lusatia, became counselor to the landgrave of Hesse Darmstadt, and wrote several works on law.
1776. The neighborhood of Philadelphia having became the seat of war, congress adjourned to Baltimore.
1777.Albert Haller, an eminent Swiss physician, died. He was a voluminous writer, and one of the most acute, various and original men that have appeared since Boerhaave.
1781. Action between the British fleet, 12 sail, under Kempenfelt, and a French convoy, protected by 19 heavy ships of the line, and 2 armeden flute. Of the merchantmen, 20 were captured, having on board 1,100 troops, and about 600 seamen, besides valuable cargoes of military stores, cannon, &c.
1782. Action between British ship Mediator, and American ship Alexander, 24 guns, captain Gregory, and French ship Menagerie, 212 men, laden with powder, naval stores, &c. The two latter were captured without any loss on the part of the British.
1783.John Scottdied; an English quaker poet, called the poet of Arnwell.
1787. Pennsylvania (the second state), ratified the constitution of the United States, without amendments.
1789.Richard Alton, an Austrian general, died. He commanded in the Low countries, in 1787, and though a strict disciplinarian and a man of bravery, betrayed so much weakness during the insurrection in Brabant, that he was sent for to answer charges, and died on the journey.
1793. Battle of Mans; the royalists of La Vendee defeated with great slaughter by the French under Marceau.
1804.John Boydelldied; a most distinguished encourager of the arts of painting and engraving, in England.
1809. Action at night between British sloop Trincomale, and French privateer Iphigene. The sloop was blown up and all on board but two perished; the privateer had her side stove in and her masts forced out by the shock, and lost 115 men.
1822. Napoli di Romania, the ancient Nauplia, surrendered to the Greeks, after a long and tedious blockade, during which the Turkish garrison was reduced to feed on the corpses of their companions. The crescent had been flying on the fortress uninterruptedly since 1714, at which time it was treacherously given up to the Coumourgi, and made the seat of the Turkish government for the Morea.
1830.Benjamin Constant, a distinguished French author, and one of the greatest orators of his day, was honored with a magnificent funeral.
1834. The Carlists, of Spain, under Gen. Eraso, defeated at Soraida, by the troops of the queen, under general Mina.
1834. The government of Greece transferred from Napoli to Athens.
1836.John Davidson, an English traveler, murdered by the El Hareb tribe of Africans, on his way to Tombuctoo. He commenced traveling in 1826, and had visited North and South America, India, Egypt, as far as the second cataract, Syria, Palestine, Turkey, Greece, Italy, France and Germany, and had proceeded to within 25 days' journey of the city of Tombuctoo. He was conversant with the different languages of the east, and possessed extraordinaryenterprise and great accomplishments as a traveler.
1838.Charles Philip Wrede, a Bavarian field-marshal, died. He distinguished himself under Bonaparte, in the war against Austria, and was severely wounded at the battle of Wagram. In the celebrated Russian campaign he commanded, with great credit, the Bavarian contingent army.
1840.J. D. E. Esquirol, who so successfully introduced a new mode of treating the insane, died.
1842.Elkanah Watson, a great friend of and writer on internal improvements, died at port Kent, Essex county, N. Y., aged 86.
1847.James Kent, so long distinguished as an American jurist and philanthropist, died at New York, aged 84.
1849.Isambard Brunel, the celebrated engineer of the Thames tunnel, died at London.
1856.Herman E. Ludewig, a Saxon scholar, died in Brooklyn, N. Y., aged 47. He is known by hisLiterature of American Local History.
405.B. C.Battle of Ægospotami. This celebrated Spartan victory of Lysander over a vast Athenian fleet, happily closed the 27 years' war in the Peloponesus. Conon fled to Cyprus, and the admiral took possession of Athens in the following spring.
126.B. C.A league of friendship referred to the Roman senate assembled in the temple of Concord, on behalf of the Jews, who had sent three ambassadors with a shield of gold as a mark of confederacy.
1250.Frederick II, emperor of Germany, died. He was successful in his wars against the Saracens, but was forced to return to wage war with the pope, whom he also conquered. He was deposed, however, in 1245 by Innocent IV.
1254.Innocent IV(Sinibaldi de Fiesque) died. He was early engaged in a quarrel with Frederick of Germany, whom he excommunicated and deposed. He was the first who invested the cardinals with a red hat as a mark of dignity.
1502. A water spout at Porto Bello greatly alarmed the Spaniards. Ferdinand Columbus says "if they had not dissolved it by saying the gospel of St. John, it had certainly sunk whatsoever it fell upon."
1521.Emanuel(the Great), king of Portugal, died. He distinguished himself by the liberal manner in which he patronized commercial enterprises, by which the cape of Good Hope was rounded, and Brazil visited.
1542.James V, of Scotland, died. He assumed the government at the age of 17, and was admired for his virtues.
1542. An act passed permitting those deemed the better sort to read the Bible in England.
1545. The great council of Trent opened.
1565.Conrad Gesner, a Swiss botanist, died. It has been said that botany owes to him its very existence as a science.
1577.Drakesailed from Plymouth, England, in the Golden Hind, on his voyage round the world, which he was the second navigator that accomplished.
1621.Robert Cushmanhaving visited the colony of Plymouth with supplies, took in a cargo of beaver skins and clapboards, the first export from New England, which was valued at £500. The vessel was captured and carried into France.
1642. New Zealand discovered by Tasman.
1648. In order to enforce an ordinance of Cromwell, Capt. Bethan was appointed provost marshal, "with power to seize upon all ballad singers, and to suppress stage plays."
1702. The mottosemper eademfirst attached to the arms of England.
1721. Several alterations made in the form of the affirmation of the English quakers. About 20 years previous to this their affirmation was accepted instead of their oath.
1729.Anthony Collinsdied; an English polemical writer, whose numerous works were warmly attacked by the orthodox writers of the day.
1737.John Strypedied, aged 94; an English divine, industrious as a historian and biographer.
1738.Philip Frowdedied; a writer of English and Latin poetry, and of tragedy.
1754.Mahomet V, emperor of Turkey, died. He was more eminent for his pacific disposition than for his military exploits.
1759. At Leipsic the cold was so intense that ten sentinels were frozen to death.
1769.Christian Furchtegott Gellert, a German comic poet, died.
1775. Congress first determined to build a navy, to consist of 5 frigates of 32 guns, 5 of 28 guns, and 3 of 24 guns.
1776. American Gen.Leesurprised and made prisoner by a British patrole in New Jersey.
1783.Peter Wargentindied; a learned Swede, who published tables for computing the eclipses of Jupiter's satellites.
1784.Samuel Johnson, the English lexicographer, died; a writer of great eminence and celebrity.
1788.Charles III, king of Spain, died. His policy was censured for endangeringthe Spanish empire in America by supporting the independence of the British colonies.
1788.David Macbride, an Irish physician of great celebrity, died. HisTheory and Practice of Medicinewas formerly in great request.
1797.Lewis le Gendre, a prominent actor in the French revolution, died. He proposed in the Jacobin club that the body of the king should be cut into 84 pieces, and one sent to each of the departments.
1803.Francis Lewis, one of the signers, died, aged 90. He was a merchant of New York, had visited Russia, and was employed in the importation of military stores, and other secret services.
1809. Desperate action between British frigate Junon, 40 guns, Capt. Shortland, and three French frigates of 88 guns in all. The Junon was captured, after losing 90 men killed and wounded; among the latter was the captain, who received several shots before surrendering. His vessel was so much shattered that the French burnt her the next day.
1811. A dog which had been accidentally shut into a house in Albany, on the 1st day of November, was taken out alive on this day, after a fast of 42 days, and recovered.
1813. Battle near Bayonne, between the French under Soult, and the allies under Wellington, in which the former were defeated and driven into the city with the loss of 6,500 men. British loss about half the number.
1814.Charles Joseph, prince De Ligne, an Austrian field marshal, died. He was born at Bruxelles, 1735, and devoted his early years to science and learning. His writings were numerous, of which 30 vols. have been published.
1850. The steam boat Anglo Norman, while on a pleasure trip for the day, at New Orleans, exploded both boilers, and nearly a hundred persons were either killed or wounded.
1854. A Russian decree ordered an additional levy of ten men in every thousand, in the eastern half of the Russian empire, Jews not excepted.
402.Anastasius I, pope, died. He reconciled the eastern and western churches, and was much respected for his sanctity and virtue.
628. Pilgrimage of the emperorHeracliusat Jerusalem.
1417.John Oldcastle, "the good lord Cobham," the first author and an early martyr of the reformation, hung alive in chains and burnt to death.
1622.Valentine Smalcius, a celebrated Socinian writer, died at Cracow.
1624.Charles Howard, an intrepid English admiral, died. He commanded the English fleet at the defeat of the Spanish armada.
1681.Francis Vavasseur, a French Jesuit, died; distinguished as a teacher of rhetoric andbelles lettresat Paris, and as a lecturer on the scriptures.
1704.Joseph Duche de Vancydied; a French poet, author of several scripture tragedies.
1710.Henry Aldrichdied; an eminent English scholar, divine, architect and musician.
1713.Thomas Rymer, a famous English antiquary, died.
1715.Thomas Tenison, archbishop of Canterbury, died; a celebrated polemical writer against popery.
1716.William Trumbulldied; an English statesman, ambassador to France and afterwards secretary of state.
1735.Thomas Tanner, a learned English antiquary, died, leaving behind him a valuable work, upon which he had been employed 40 years.
1759. Prof.Braunascertained the congelation of quicksilver.
1769.Samuel Kneeland, an eminent Boston printer, died. He published the first edition of the Bible in America, which was in 4to, with a London imprint, to evade the patent which was held by English and Scottish publishers,cum privilegio.
1774. The citizens of New Hampshire attacked and carried the king's castle, and removed the powder.
1775. Gen.Howeordered the old North Meeting and 100 other wooden houses, to be taken down in Boston and used for fire wood.
1775. British lordDunmoredefeated by the Americans at Norfolk, Va.
1776. British overran New Jersey.
1780.Ignatius Sancho, an African author, died at London, aged 51. He was born on board of a slave ship. HisLetterspossess great originality. (15?)
1781. Gen.Greeneinformed the board of war that he had been unable to advance on the British for ten days for want of ammunition; that he had not paper with which to make returns, no camp kettles, &c.; that he lay within a few miles of the enemy and had not six rounds per man; that he had been seven months in the field without taking off his clothes one night.
1782. British under Gen.Leslieevacuated Charleston, S. C., and embarked under cover of the king's ship Caroline. TheAmericans under Gen. Wayne took immediate possession of it.
1785.John Baptist Cypriani, a famous Italian painter, died. He settled in England, but his numerous pieces were spread over Europe by the graver of Bartolozzi.
1789.Caleb Elliottdied of starvation. He was a visionary enthusiast who imagined that he was called upon to fast 40 days, and actually lived 16 days without food of any kind, having refused all sorts of sustenance.
1792.Arthur Lee, an American statesman, died. He was an ardent friend of the rights of the colonies, which he rendered essential services as agent at London, and afterwards as minister with Franklin in France. He is represented as a man of uniform patriotism, sound understanding, great probity, plain manners and strong passions.
1796.Anthony Wayne, commander-in-chief of the United States troops, died at Presque isle, aged 51. He distinguished himself in the wars of the revolution by his bravery and untiring patriotism.
1797. Great earthquake at Cumana; more than four-fifths of the city was entirely destroyed, and a number of persons perished.
1799.George Washington, the American hero and statesman, the man on whom, in times of danger, every eye was turned and all hopes were placed, expired without a struggle, at Mount Vernon, in the 68th year of his age.
1803. The British under Maj. Gen.Wellesley, since lord Wellington, carried by storm the almost impregnable fortress of Gawilghar, in the East Indies.
1807. An extraordinary large and brilliant meteor was seen in Connecticut, exploding at three different times, each explosion accompanied with a fall of meteoric stones, one of which was probably 200 pounds weight.
1814. British flotilla of 45 boats with 1,200 men and 43 cannon captured several American gun boats on lake Borgne near New Orleans, manned by 23 guns and 182 men, after an action of about three hours.
1815. The prince regent of Portugal at Rio de Janeiro, proclaimed the Brazils to be a separate kingdom.
1816.Charles Stanhope, an English statesman, died. He is better known by his numerous mechanical inventions, and as a man of science.
1818.Edward Law, lord Ellenborough, an eminent English lawyer, died.
1826.Conrad Malte-Brun, a Danish poet, political and philosophical writer, and geographer, died at Paris. He was forced to leave his own country for the tendency of his writings to liberty.
1829. Commencement of a civil war in Chili, by an action between the armies of Luctra and Pietro, in which the latter were defeated.
1843.Charles Goldsborough, author of the naval history of the United States, died at Washington, D. C., where he was engaged in the navy department.
1849.Edward Doubleday, a distinguished British naturalist, died at London, aged 39. He visited the United States in 1835, and returned with a large and rare collection of specimens in most of the branches of natural history, which he distributed to several of the public institutions of England.
1851.Joel R. Poinsett, an American statesman, died, aged 72. He was a native of South Carolina, was secretary of war under Mr. Van Buren, and opposed to the revolutionary schemes of some of the politicians of his native state.
1852. Madamed'Arusmont, better known asFanny Wright, died at Cincinnati, aged 57. She was born at Dundee, Scotland, and came to America with considerable property, where she gained great notoriety by her lectures and writings.
1855.Joel Abbott, commanding the United States squadron in the East Indies, died at Hong Kong, China; a brave and energetic officer, who discharged his duties with signal ability and discretion.
337B. C.Timoleon, an illustrious Corinthian, died at Syracuse. He went to the assistance of the Syracusans against the tyrant Dionysius, and became there a most benevolent and popular character.
215.B. C.Hieronymus, tyrant of Syracuse, slain. From his fall is dated the three years' siege of Marcellus, and the death of Archimedes at the end of it.
168.B. C.Antiochus Epiphanesset up hisabomination, the statue of Jupiter, in the sacred temple, it being the anniversary of his own birthday.
533.Tribonianbegan theDigestsorPandects, that astonishing labor, which condensed within fifty books a body of three million sentences from dead civilians, and which he finished by the aid of seventeen associates in exactly three years.
882.John VIII, pope, died. He held a council at Troyes, but was called back to Italy by the invasion of the Saracens, who were so successful that they obliged him to pay an annual tribute. Three hundred of his letters are preserved.
1347. Abdication and exile ofRienzithe Roman tribune.
1582. The Gregorian style adopted at Paris, omitting ten days.
1683.Izaak Walton, an English writer, died, aged 90. He acquired a fortune and occupied his time in writing and angling; his little treatise called theComplete Angleris unique.
1692.George Adam Struviusdied; professor of jurisprudence at Jena, and counselor of the king of Saxony.
1715.George Hicksdied, an English divine, antiquary, critic and polemical writer of great learning and abilities.
1725.John Johnson, an English non-juror divine, died. Although promoted to various dignities in the church, he entertained a contempt for its articles and liturgy.
1745. Battle of Kesseldorf; the Prussians under the prince of Anhalt, defeated the Austrians and Saxons, who lost 3,000 killed and 6,500 prisoners.
1751.Henry St. John, viscount Bolingbroke, for many years busily engaged in the politics, literature and philosophy of his times, died of cancer in the face, aged 73.
1764.Robert Lloyd, an English poet and miscellaneous writer, died in the Fleet prison.
1771.Benjamin Stillingfleet, a distinguished poet and naturalist, died.
1778. French admiral countd'Estaing, arrived from America at St. Lucia and attacked unsuccessfully the British fleet and batteries in the bay of Grand Cul de Sac, in which he sustained great loss.
1782.William Francis Berthier, a French Jesuit, died; known as the conductor for many years of theJournal de Travaux, royal librarian and preceptor of Lewis XVI.
1782. American ship Commerce, 16 guns, Capt. Truxton, engaged a British brig of 18 guns and a schooner of 14 guns; he was obliged to make off on the appearance of two other British vessels. He saved his convoy, and they all arrived at St. Thomas in safety, a few hours after the action.
1794.Carrier,PinardandGrand Maisonguillotined at Paris. The former was noted for his refined cruelty to the numerous victims which power placed in his hands. On the fall of the mountain party he was consigned to punishment, which he well merited.
1810.Sarah Trimmer, an English authoress, died. She is well known by her various works designed for the use of children.
1814. Meeting of the Hartford convention, which consisted of 26 members from the new England states, to consult upon the exigencies of the times, and the defenceless condition of the coast.
1831.Hannah Adams, an American authoress, died. She was a native of Massachusetts, a woman of great excellence and purity of character, and a writer of very fair reputation. Her monument is to be seen in the Mount Auburn cemetery, near Boston.
1834.Andrew Frank, a colored man, died at Johnston, R. I., aged 104.
1836. The United States post office, the patent office and the Washington city post office, together with the contents of the two latter, destroyed by fire. In the patent office were 7,000 models of patents, out of 10,000 which had been granted by congress; 163 large folio volumes of records; 26 port folios containing 9,000 drawings, many of them beautifully executed and valuable.
1837.John Coxdied, aged 85. He was a captain in the naval service of Virginia in the early part of the revolutionary war, and was one of the most efficient and distinguished patriots during the contest.
1837.Philip Sing Physic, a Philadelphia physician and surgeon of great eminence, died, aged 70. He was long a celebrated professor of anatomy and surgery in the university of Pennsylvania.
1840. The remains ofBonapartewere removed from Cherbourg, where they were disembarked, to the Church of theinvalidesat Paris. The procession was splendid beyond all precedent, the number assembled being computed at 500,000. The king and royal family were present at the ceremony, and 60,000 national guards were in attendance.
1842.John R. Watrous, an eminent physician and revolutionary surgeon, died at Colchester, Conn., aged 91.
1842.Benjamin Parkhurstdied at Royalton, Vt., aged 97. He was the first settler of that town, living in it over 78 years, and of a family famed for longevity. His parents died at the age of 97. His grandfather reached 100, and his grandmother 104 years.
1848. The postal convention between Great Britain and the United States signed at London by lord Palmerston and Mr. Bancroft.
1854.Kamehameha III, king of the Sandwich islands, died, aged 41, and was succeeded by prince Alexander Liholiho, aged 20, under the title of Kamehameha IV.
714.Pepin(the Fat), mayor of Paris, died; a man of wisdom and vigor.
1215. A special excommunication of the English barons fulminated at Rome, and towered London laid under an interdict.
1515.Alfonzo Albuquerquedied, Portuguese viceroy of India, surnamedthe Greatandthe Portuguese Mars.
1653.William Gougedied; a minister of the famous assembly of divines, and appointed one of the annotators of the Bible.
1653.Oliver Cromwellappointed lord protector of England.
1656.Edmund Wingatedied; an English writer on arithmetic and mathematics.
1657.Joshua Reynolds, commander of the English forces in Mardyke, was cast away with the whole ship's company, on Goodwin's sands.
1684. The statue of Charles II in the Royal Exchange at London, was erected by the Hamburg company.
1687.William Petty, an eminent English physician, died; chiefly celebrated for his knowledge in mathematics and mechanics, and for his writings on political arithmetic.
1703.Julius Mascaron, a most eminent preacher, died. His eloquence was astonishing, and it is related that his preaching had such an effect upon the Huguenots, that of 30,000 Calvinists which he found on coming to the see of Agen, 28,000 forsook their church.
1710. Gerona, the key of Catalonia in Spain, surrendered to the French.
1723.John Trencharddied; an eminent English patriot and political writer.
1745.Peter Francis Guyot des Fontainesdied; a French critic, historical writer and translator.
1767.James Grainger, a Scottish physician and poet, died in the West Indies.
1770.Roger Long, an eminent English astronomer, died.
1773. Destruction of 340 chests of tea in Boston harbor by a party of citizens disguised as Indians. There was but one survivor of that event, in 1840.
1782. The British burnt fort Arbuthnot and a new fort on Sullivan's island.
1783.William Jamesdied; an English baronet, who rose from the humble occupation of a plowboy to the chief command of the East India company's marine forces.
1788. Oczakow taken from the Turks by storm by the Russians under prince Potemkin, who had about 1,000 killed in the assault.
1798.Thomas Pennantdied; an Englishman of eminent knowledge in natural history and antiquities, and the author of a number of valuable books.
1800. Convention of the northern powers of Europe for an armed neutrality, signed at St. Petersburg between Russia and Sweden.
1809. The most ceremonious and extraordinary divorce in the world took place between Bonaparte and Josephine.
1809.Anthony Francis Fourcroydied; a very eminent French writer on chemistry, and a member of the Institute.
1811. An earthquake was experienced in the southern states and in Ohio and Pennsylvania. Charleston, Savannah, Pittsburgh and Circleville especially suffered from it.
1825.James Watt, the original publisher of theMontrose, Arbroath and Brechin Review, fell over board in Yarmouth Roads and was drowned.
1832.Robert C. Sands, an American author and editor, died. He was a man of genius, a scholar, and an elegant writer.
1835. The coldest day on record, from sunrise to sunset. The thermometer ranged from 12° to 16° below zero all day, in the vicinity of Boston. The winter was remarkable for the lowness of its mean temperature, the number of extremely cold days, and the great quantity and long duration of snow.
1835. Great fire in New York, the most destructive that ever took place in this country, by which the entire seat of the greatest commercial transactions of the city, was destroyed. The number of buildings destroyed was 529, including the Merchant's Exchange, valued at $150,000, and the Garden street church $50,000. The total loss was estimated at $17,000,000.
1848. A little after midnight the Park theatre at New York was burned to the ground.
1852.Samuel Lee, canon of Bristol, and the profoundest orientalist of the age, died, aged 69. He rose from the sphere of a carpenter's apprentice.
546. The Goths underTotillacaptured and plundered Rome.
1413.William Gascoigne, a noted English judge, died. His opinions, arguments and decisions occur in the old law reports.
1468. The first book printed in England bears this date at Oxford, and contains 41 quarto leaves.
1500.Columbuswas introduced at the court of Ferdinand and Isabella at Grenada.
1538.Luthernotes in hisTable Talk, that he invited the singers and musicians to supper. "I always loved music; who so has skill in this art, the same is of good kind, and fitted for all things,"—a divine saying.
1593.Henry May, an English mariner, returning from the East Indies, was wrecked on the islands of Bermudas, and wasthe first Englishman, who set foot on those islands. The carpenter's tools having been saved, they built a cedar bark of about 18 tons, payed the seams with lime and turtle's fat, procured some rigging from the ship, and put in thirteen live turtles for provisions, when, having remained there nearly five months, they sailed for Newfoundland.
1615.Jacob le Maire, in his voyage to the straits, reports that he found this day at Port Desire, a skeleton of nearly 11 feet in length, entombed.
1657.James Naylor, a quaker, accused of blasphemy, convicted and ordered to be whipped and pilloried and his tongue bored through with a red hot iron.
1719. Aurora borealis first noticed in this country, and filled the people with alarm and consternation. It was of course viewed as a sign of the last judgment.
1724.Thomas Guy, founder of a hospital which bears his name, died in London, aged 81. He acquired great wealth as a bookseller, and left more than a million of dollars to one hospital, besides aiding others, and leaving nearly $400,000 to be divided among such as could prove themselves in any way related to him.
1731.Robert Boltondied; an English puritan, distinguished for his learning and eloquence, and whose high reputation is sustained by his numerous writings.
1742.Francis Joseph de Beaupoil de Saint-Aulaire, an ingenious French poet, died, aged 100. He wrote much in the manner of Anacreon, and it is remarkable, that his best pieces are those of his old age, when he had reached his 90th year.
1778. The theatre at Saragossa, in Spain, was burned, occasioning the death of 400 persons.
1788. The thermometer at Leipsic fell 27 degrees below zero.
1807. Milan decree issued by Bonaparte, denationalizing all such vessels as should submit to the British order in council.
1808.Charles Jenkinson, earl of Liverpool, died. He was a statesman of profound ability, but extremely unpopular, who rose from obscurity to wealth and rank.
1812. Mississinewa, an Indian town inhabited by Delawares and Miamis, attacked by 600 Americans under colonel Campbell. The town was burnt, with several others in the vicinity.
1812. British attacked Darby, Vt., and burnt the barracks and store houses, and carried off considerable quantities of stores.
1830.Simon Bolivar, a distinguished South American general, died. He headed the revolution of the provinces against the mother country, and having achieved their independence was elected president of Colombia.
1832. Prof.Zahndiscovered a city buried under the lava, between Vesuvius and Pompeii.
1832.Robert C. Sands, the assistant editor of theNew York Commercial Advertiser, died by apoplexy while in the act of composing.
1843.Jacob Mann, supposed to be the oldest newspaper editor of the state of New Jersey, died in Morristown; having published theGenius of Libertyin 1798.
1852.William Jacob, an English agricultural writer, died at London, aged 89.
1853.Ralph Wardlaw, an eminent minister of the congregational dissenters, died at Glasgow, aged 73.
69.Vitellusabdicated the Roman empire, which "he had received against his will." The next day he desired to restore the dagger of his authority.
1551.George Martinusius(Visinovitsch), governor of Transylvania, assassinated by order of Ferdinand, king of the Romans and of Hungary. He was a native of Croatia, who rose from the humble occupation of a lighter of stoves.
1555.John Philpot, archdeacon of Winchester, an English reformer, convicted of heresy and burnt at Smithfield.
1621. The famous resolution of the commons of England against the usurped royal prerogative was adopted. King James did indeed tear it from the records with his own hand, but it had its effect.
1665.Benedict Varchidied; professor of morality at Padua, and distinguished for the purity and elegance of his language and writings.
1674.Gabriel Cossartdied. He assisted Labbe in his grand collection of councils, which occupied 28 vols. folio.
1678.Robert Nanteuil, a celebrated French engraver and designer, died.
1682.Heneage Finch, lord high chancellor of England, died. He was distinguished for his wisdom and eloquence.
1686.Edward Bendlowes, an English poet, died in great want, the result of imprudence.
1692.Vitus Ludovicus de Sechendorf, a learned German, died; author of several works, among which is the best account of Luther.
1708.John Lovelacearrived at New York from England, as governor of the province.
1714.Cæsar d'Estrees, a French cardinal, died; an able negotiator and a benevolent man.
1733.John Potengerdied; an English poet and miscellaneous writer.
1733.Emanuel Mattidied; a Spanish poet of eminence, and member of the Arcadia at Rome.
1737. The cliff at Scarborough sunk.
1741. Remarkable meteor seen at noon near Canterbury, Eng., accompanied by an inverted rainbow and three mock suns next morning.
1745. The Prussians under Frederick II entered Dresden. They captured the younger sons of the king of Poland, and took 415 officers and 1500 men prisoners.
1760.Charles Hayes, an ingenious English mathematical writer, died.
1771.Philip Milla, an eminent Scottish botanist, died. He had charge of the apothecary company's physic garden at Chelsea, where he was visited by Linnæus.
1775. Battle of Great Bridge, near Norfolk, Va.
1776. The constitution of the state of North Carolina was adopted.
1778. The French under count d'Estaing made another attack upon the British batteries at Grand Cul de Sac, St. Lucia, and after being three times repulsed, were compelled to retire with the loss of 400 killed and 1100 wounded. British general Meadows was wounded.
1780. Society of antiquaries first instituted in Edinburgh, Scotland.
1785. The sloop Experiment, captain Dean, of Albany, sailed from New York for China. She returned in 1787, with a valuable cargo, and was the second vessel that sailed from America to China.
1787. The convention of New Jersey unanimously assented to and ratified the new federal constitution, without amendments.
1787.Soame Jenyns, an English theological writer, died, aged 83. His writings are distinguished by purity of language, elegance of diction and critical knowledge.
1793. Toulon, which had revolted from the convention, after sustaining a murderous siege, was attacked by the revolutionists with a tremendous charge upon the fortifications. The English redoubt, defended by three thousand men and 20 pieces of cannon and several mortars, was carried in the space of an hour; and the town after being bombarded ten hours incessantly, was evacuated by the allies. Great efforts were made to carry away as many of the inhabitants as possible, but several thousand were left to the fury of their countrymen, who showed no mercy.
1796. The contemplated invasion of England, or rather Ireland, by an army of 25,000 under general Hoche, failed by a dispersion of the transport ships.
1799. Burial ofWashington.
1799.Jean Etienne Montucla, an eminent French mathematician, died. His problems of the trisection of the angle, and the duplication of the cube, are curious and interesting.
1803.John Godfrey Herder, a German theological writer, died. Some of his writings have been translated.
1807. Counter declaration by the king of England against the emperor of Russia, and an order in council issued for granting letters of marque and reprisal against Russia.
1809.Alexander Adam, an eminent Scottish teacher, died. HisRoman Antiquitiesis still in extensive use.
1810.Lucien Bonapartewith his family and a suite of thirty-five persons, arrived at Plymouth, England, and voluntarily placed themselves under the protection of the British government.
1812.Bonapartearrived at Paris from his disastrous campaign in Russia.
1820.Guiseppe Bonzaniga, royal sculptor of Turin, died. By a persevering application of 40 years he raised the art of carving in wood and ivory to a high degree of perfection, and founded an establishment from which numerous works of art have been produced that are much sought for in all Italy, and valued by connoisseurs.
1828. LordLiverpool, the English premier, was killed at the opening of the rail road at Liverpool.
1832.Philip Freneau, a poet of the American revolution, died in New Jersey, aged 80. His poems were collected in two volumes and have gone through several editions.
1832. Treaty of navigation and commerce concluded at St. Petersburg, between the United States and Russia.
1843.Smith Thompson, one of the justices of the supreme court of the United States, died at Poughkeepsie, aged 76.
1845.Samuel McCluredied in Illinois. Having fought in the revolutionary wars, he at their close in removing his family to Kentucky was attacked by Indians, his wife taken prisoner, and his children slain. He escaped himself and returning severely punished the Indians and rescued his wife.
1847.Timothy Pitkin, a celebrated historical writer and statesman, died at his residence, New Haven, Conn.
1855.Samuel Rogers, the distinguished English poet, died, aged 92.
69. The Roman capitol burnt by Vitellius.
1567. The Burghley papers state from the diocesan's certificate, that there werethen in London and its immediate vicinity, 3,838 Dutchmen, 720 Frenchmen, 137 Italians, 10 Venitians, 56 Spaniards, 25 Portuguese, 2 Grecians, 2 Blackmores, 1 Dane, and but 58 Scots.
1675. Attack on Narragansett, by the united forces of the New England colonies. The English having gained an entrance, and withstood the first fire of the Indians, poured in amain, and made such havoc with their enemies that they soon had possession of every part of the fort. The wigwams to the number of five or six hundred were fired. The loss of the Indians on this occasion was by their own account 1000 fighting men; the loss of old men, women and children could not be estimated, as they mostly perished in the flames. The loss of the English was 80 killed. The blow was irreparable to the Indians, who were deprived of their homes and provisions.
1728.White Kennet, an English prelate, died. He was an eloquent and popular preacher, and made a valuable collection of manuscripts.
1745. The avails of three nights' acting theBeggar's Opera, amounting to £600, given to encourage king George's army against France and the rebels.
1753.Styan Thirlby, an ingenious and learned English critic, died. He edited the works of Justin Martyr.
1777.Washingtonmoved his troops from the Swedes ford to Valley Forge 16 miles from Philadelphia, where he hutted them. They were in great want of shoes and stockings. At one time his army was without bread four days; on the fifth day two regiments refused to perform duty, but finally returned to order on the prudent conduct and persuasion of Washington.
1793. The princess royal of France, the only remaining member of the family of the unhappy Louis XVI, was exchanged for the marquis Lafayette.
1793. The French troops entered Toulon, when such of the inhabitants as had favored the allies either put an end to their own existence or perished by the guillotine or musket.
1799.Charles Joseph Panckoucke, an eminent Parisian printer, died. He acquired great celebrity as an author and a man of letters, as well as by the excellence of his printing.
1806.Elizabeth Carter, a contributor to theRambler, and a good Latin and Greek scholar, died at London.
1807.Frederick Melchoir, baron de Grimm, died. He is indebted for his fame to a correspondence with the duke of Saxe Gotha, from Paris, which was published in 16 vols.
1813.David Hartley, an English philanthropist, died. He is distinguished also as a politician and a projector. In parliament he steadily opposed the war with the colonies, and was one of the commissioners appointed to treat with Dr. Franklin at Paris.
1813. Fort Niagara captured by the British, who took the Americans by surprise. In the fort were 250 men and 25 cannon.
1813. Lewistown and Tuscarora village, near fort Schlosser, were burnt by the Indians.
1815.Benjamin Smith Barton, an eminent physician of Philadelphia, died. He held the professorships of natural history and botany, afterwards ofmateria medica, and succeeded Dr. Rush in theory and practice of medicine.
1831. The national assembly of Greece met at Argos, but in consequence of sedition was soon obliged to remove to Napoli.
1840.Felix Grundy, long a distinguished senator of the United States from Tennessee, died. He was a zealous supporter of the measures of general Jackson's administration.
1842.John Uncas, the last male descendant of the Mohegan chief of that name, died, aged 89, and was buried in the royal burying ground of the Mohegans in Connecticut.
1845.Charles Bowen, with his wife and oldest child, drowned by the sinking of the steamer Bellozane in the Mississippi. He was for many years publisher of the North American Review, the American Almanac, Token, &c., in Boston.
1851.J. M. William Turner, an unrivaled English landscape painter, died at Chelsea, aged 76. He was a man of miserly habits and great eccentricities.
1852. Sacramento in California inundated; the city submerged by the breaking through of a levee.