1794. British squadron captured, on the American station, 14 sail of French ships laden with provisions.
1795. The British took Simonstown, cape of Good Hope.
1796. The British post of Oswego delivered up to the Americans, agreeable to treaty stipulations. The British had continued to occupy stations within the state of New York since the revolution. As they marched out the United States troops marched in, planted a standard on the ramparts, and fired a salute of 15 guns.
1798. Congress passed the famous act for the punishment of sedition, &c., against the United States, commonly called thegag law.
1798. Battle of Chebriessa, in Egypt, the French under Bonaparte defeated the Mamelukes by land and water.
1807.George Saville Carey, an English dramatist and poet, died. He was bred to the profession of a printer, which he left for the stage. His writings all tend to awaken patriotic, generous and amiable emotions.
1808. Battle of Riosecco, in Spain; the French under Gen. Bessieres, came upon the united armies of Castile and Leon, and defeated them in a desperate action, in which 20,000 Spaniards perished. This calamitous battle opened the gates of Madrid to Joseph Bonaparte.
1813. The United States schooner Asp, of twenty men and two guns, attacked by five British barges; after a gallant resistance, in which she lost ten of her men and her commander, she was abandoned to the enemy.
1814. The British schooner Balaboo, of six guns, captured by the American privateer schooner Perry of five guns, after a running fight of fifty, and a close action, of ten minutes.
1817.Anna Louisa Germaine Necker, baroness de Stael Holstein, died. Her talents were so early displayed that she was said never to have been a child, and she became distinguished at an early age as a writer, and by the spirit of her conversation. She was banished twice by Napoleon for attempting to thwart his government. Her works form 17 vols.
1834.Edmund Charles Genet, a French statesman, died. He was a minister to the United States in 1793, and when superceded he remained in the country, and settled on the Hudson river.
1836.Isabella Jamesdied at Montego bay, Jamaica, aged 110.
1848. A portion of the levee fell in at New Orleans, by which a number of persons were drowned and much property destroyed.
1852. The college of the Holy Cross, at Worcester, Mass., destroyed by fire, partially damaging the library, which was otherwise wholly saved.
1853. Com.Perrylanded at Japan, and delivered to the imperial commissioners the letter from the American president.
1853. The crystal palace opened at New York, in presence of the president of the United States, and many other dignitaries.
1854. Ducd'Ecklingen, second son of marshal Ney, died at Gallipoli. He commanded a brigade of cavalry in the French army of the east.
1854.Abbas Pasha, viceroy of Egypt, died at Benha, a small town on the Nile. He had reigned over Egypt since 1848. He was very unpopular, and under his rule the population decreased, and those that remained lived in great wretchedness. The only remarkable work of his reign was the commencement of the railway from Cairo to Alexandria.
1856.Enoch Lewis, a prominent member of the society of Friends, died at Philadelphia, aged 81. He wrote much in explanation of the principles and practice of his sect, was for many years editor of theFriend's Review, and was also noted for his attainments in mathematics.
496B. C.Battle of Regillum, in which it is said the twin knights Castor and Pollux appeared upon white horses and assisted the Romans. In memory of this event an annual cavalcade was instituted at Rome, during which the knights, robed in purple, and crowned with olive wreaths, rode in solemn procession from the temple of Honor to the Capitol, where the censor, seated on his curule chair, passed judgment on their characters.
238.MaximusandBalbinus, emperors of Rome, murdered by the prætorian guards.
1099. Jerusalem taken by the crusaders on the 39th day of the siege. Two huge movable towers had been constructed, and rolled with great labor to the foot of the fortifications. From the tops of these they fought the besieged on even terms till afternoon, when a warrior named Letolde leapt upon the ramparts and was followed by all the other knights, and drove the Saracens down into the city. The standard of the cross was planted in triumph on the walls, and after 460 years of bondage, the holy city passed from under the Moslem yoke. The victory thus bravely won, was tarnished by the ferocity of the conquerors. The number who were slain in the city amounted to 70,000, and the Jews were burnt in their synagogues.
1535.Trajan'sfloating palace (which was sunk at a great depth in lake Nemi, Italy, 1340 years before) explored by Marchi in a diving machine. It was found in a tolerable state of preservation, measuring 500 feet in length, 270 in breadth and 60 in depth. This magnificent work was designed for the retirement of a prince celebrated for his magnificent taste, and were it possible to rescue it from its present position, or examine the interior, many valuable relics might be brought to light, to enrich the cabinet of the antiquarian if not to subserve the use of the sciences.
1546. The protestants having assembled a force of 70,000 foot, 15,000 horse, and 6,000 pioneers, with 120 cannon, 800 ammunition wagons, 8,000 beasts of burden, determined to support their cause by the force of arms. They issued a manifesto, and sent a letter to Charles V. (SeeJuly 20.)They were, however, overcome without battle, in consequence of having separated themselves into small bodies early in 1547.
1557.Anne of Cleves, one of the queens of Henry VIII of England, died. The king demanded her in marriage after having seen her picture. But the painter had flattered the beauty, and the king becoming disgusted with what he termed aFlanders mare, obtained a divorce and sent her home again. She retired, seemingly unconcerned, and no doubt considered it a matter of great good fortune to have escaped with life.
1557. A great dearth of breadstuffs in England; wheat £2 13s. 4d.; malt £2 4s.; peas £2 6d. per quarter.
1567.Mary, queen of Scots, unable by entreaties or threats, to induce her followers to fight any longer in her cause, surrendered herself up to her disaffected subjects, by whom she was imprisoned.
1570.Ignatius Azevedo, a Portuguese Jesuit, murdered. He relinquished the enjoyment of a large fortune to embark as a missionary to India, was captured by pirates, and with nineteen of his companions, barbarously massacred, near Palma.
1575.Henry, duke of Anjou, divested of the Polish crown, in full diet, and the throne declared vacant.
1610. The Halve Maan, in which the first white man sailed up the Hudson river, arrived at Amsterdam on her return, having been detained in England since Nov. 7 of the previous year.
1614.Peter de Bourdeilles, lord-abbot of Brantome, in France, died. He served an apprenticeship in arms under Francis of Guise, and is supposed to have visited most of the countries of Europe, either in a military capacity or as a traveler. His memoirs or works were published in 1666, and several editions have since been printed. It is represented to be a rare work, but has never been translated into English. (Biog. Univer.saysJuly 5, q. v.)
1685.James, duke of Monmouth, beheaded. He was the natural son of Charles II, against whom he rebelled; and on the accession of James II, he invaded England, was defeated, (SeeJuly 5,) imprisoned and finally brought to the scaffold, after having made the most humiliating petitions for his life.
1715.Bell, the Scottish traveler, left St. Petersburg for Persia, with the Russian embassy, in the quality of physician. They were obliged by the severity of the weather to halt at Cazan and pass the winter, and were detained there till June 4, 1716. They then proceeded by Astraken, the Caspian sea and Tauris to Ispahan, where they arrived in 1717.
1716. The island of Corfu, besieged by 80,000 Turks, and defended by the Venetians, was attacked by the Turkish admiral with 22 ships, and an attempt was made by the land forces to storm the citadel; but the Venetian fleet destroyed that of the Turks, and the garrison, making a counter sally with 2000 men, took the Turks by surprise in the rear, who fled, leaving 4000 dead in the trenches.
1751.John Wilson, an eminent English botanist, died. His occupation was that of a shoemaker, and he ranks among the self-elevated men, who without a liberal education have distinguished themselves by scientific and literary abilities. He became an expert and accurate botanist before Linnæus's method of discriminating species improved the science, and published aSynopsis of British Plants. He was the first writer that attempted a systematic arrangement of indigenous plants in the English language.
1761.Dominico Passionei, a learned Italian cardinal, died. He made a valuable collection of books and manuscripts, and was particularly distinguished as the friend and patron of literature.
1769. The general court of Massachusetts refusing to make provision for the support of the British soldiery, with whose presence they were favored, governor Bernard prorogued that assembly.
1776. British king's ships Phœnix, Rose and two tenders, effected their passage to Tarrytown, on the Hudson, under a heavy cannonade from the New York batteries, &c.
1778. France declared war against England, and 40,000 men were assembled in Normandy for the invasion of England. The plan was not carried into effect, because the French and Spanish fleets, which were to protect the landing, were dispersed by contrary winds.
1782.William de Buredied; a Paris bookseller, famous for his knowledge of old, curious and valuable books.
1785. A new mufti of Constantinople prohibited the reading of foreign gazettes and newspapers, in whatever language they might be written, under severe penalties.
1789.Louis XVI, accompanied by his two brothers, went to the states general of France, and declared his determination to act in concert with thenational assembly, a title which he then employed for the first time. They returned on foot to the palace, amid the shouts and blessings of an immense crowd.
1791. Great riot in Birmingham, England. Dr. Priestley's house and library destroyed by the mob. His philosophical apparatus was the best in the world, and his library and manuscripts above price, and not capable of being restored.
1795. Desperate engagement between a British private armed lugger of 12 guns,and 9 French vessels of 65 guns altogether. The French were beaten off after an incessant action of 18 hours.
1797. The exiled French ministers were permitted to return to France on taking an oath to support the constitution.
1800.Bryan Edwardsdied; a British West India merchant, author of an elegantHistory of the West Indies, and other lesser productions, connected with the islands in that part of the world.
1802.Thomas Dermody, an Irish poet, died, aged 28. He was employed as Greek and Latin assistant in his father's school, at the age of 9 years; and is said to have written as much genuine poetry at 10, as either Cowley, Milton or Pope had produced at nearly twice that age. He was, at the same time, a depraved wretch, and died of intemperance.
1807.Joseph McKeendied; an American mathematician, and first president of Bowdoin college.
1808.Muratplaced upon the throne of Naples by Bonaparte, under the title ofking Joachim Napoleon. He governed with prudence and vigor.
1815.Bonapartesurrendered himself to captain Maitland, of the British ship Bellerophon.
1819. "A steam vessel entered one of our ports from America," says a British writer under this date.
1834. The inquisition again abolished in Spain.
1839.Winthrop Macworth Praed, an eminent English orator and statesman, died.
1853. An earthquake at Cumana, in Venezuela, South America, destroyed many edifices and killed 600 persons.
1855. The first legislature of the new state of Panama, formed of the provinces of Panama, Azuen, Veraguos and Chiriqui, met at Panama. Justo Arogemena was appointed superior chief.
523B. C.One hour before midnight at Babylon the moon was eclipsed 6 digits on her northern disk. This is believed to be the 5th eclipse on record.
622. The Hegira, or Mohammedan era, commenced. It was instituted by Omar, the second caliph, in imitation of the era of the martyrs, beginning with the first appearance of the new moon (the crescent), 68 days before the flight of Mohammed from Mecca to Medina.
1054.Michael Cerularius, the Greek patriarch, excommunicated at Constantinople by the pope's legates. "Shaking the dust from their feet, they deposited on the altar of St. Sophia, a direful anathema, which enumerates the seven mortal heresies of the Greeks, and devotes them to the eternal society of the devil and his angels." The Greeks have never abandoned their errors, the popes have never repealed the sentence, and from this thunderbolt we may date the consummation of the schism between the two churches.
1212. Battle of Tolosa in Spain; the Moors defeated by Alphonso of Castile. This day became an anniversary festival calledThe triumph of the Cross.
1216.Innocent IIIdied; he was a steadfast friend of king John of England.
1377. The baronPercycreated earl of Northumberland, by Richard II at his coronation.
1429. The town of Rheims in France was taken from the English by Joan of Arc, and on the following day the dauphin was crowned, an exploit which Joan had sworn to accomplish.
1439. Commencement of a direful pestilence and famine, which scourged England and France for two years, and caused an intermission of hostilities between the two countries.
1519. The first embassy sailed from Cortez to the king of Spain. He accompanied his letter by a present of all the gold he had received from the king of Mexico, including the two great wheels, one of gold, representing the Mexican century, curiously wrought, valued at 10,000 sequins, and the other of silver, representing the Mexican year, also wrought with figures in bas-relief. His object was to prepossess the king against the representations which might be made by the governor of Cuba.
1546.Anne Askew(orAscough), an accomplished protestant lady, after having been tortured, was burnt for heresy. It is remarkable that her husband wasaccuser, the lord chancellorextortioner, and the mayor of Londonincendiary, in that unmanly work.
1640.Cornelius Van Tienhoven, secretary of New Netherland, at the head of one hundred men, made a rash attack upon the Raritans, who lived at a small river five miles behind Staten island; the soldiers committed excesses, which the Indians resented the following year.
1647.Thomas Anello(orMassaniello), a fisherman of Naples, killed. He headed an insurrection, caused by the viceroy's laying a new tax on fruit, fish, &c. The sedition continued for ten days, when all kinds of barbarity were practiced, and Anello became supreme dictator over 150,000 people. He gave himself up to debauchery, and was despatched by four assassins and his body dragged through the streets with every mark of indignity.
1676.Maria Margaret de Brinvilliers, a French lady known for her intrigues and crimes, executed at Paris. She cut off her relatives by poison, and spared her husband only because he looked upon her crimes with indifference.
1691.Francis Michael le Tellier, a French statesman, died. He was a great favorite with Louis XIV, who on a certain occasion treated him with so much coolness that he returned home from the levee and died in his own apartment of vexation and grief. He was endowed with splendid talents, which he exerted for the benefit of his country.
1696.John Pearson, an English prelate, died; known by his valuableExposition of the Creed.
1710. Battle of Alamanza, in Spain; Philip V of France defeated by the allies under Stanhope, with the loss of 1500 killed.
1717. Battle under the walls of Belgrade; the Austrians under prince Eugene defeated the Turks.
1719.James Keill, a Scottish physician, died in England; author of several valuable medical works.
1736.Thomas Yalden, an English poet and physician, died. His works are not the most polished, yet deserving of perusal.
1760. Battle of Exdorff; the prince of Brunswick defeated the Prussians, and took their commander Glaubitz, the prince of Anhalt-Cothen, and five battalions prisoners.
1761. Battle of Fillinghausen in the palatinate, between the allies under the hereditary prince Ferdinand, and the French under Broglio and Soubise. The French were defeated with the loss of 5000 and 9 cannon; loss of the allies 1200.
1767.Charles Molloy, an English dramatic writer, died. He also conductedFog's Journal, andCommon Sense.
1779. Stony point taken by the Americans. The assault was made at half-past 12 at night, when both columns rushed forward under a tremendous fire of musketry and grape shot, entered the works at the point of the bayonet. American loss 98 killed and wounded; British loss 63 killed, 543 prisoners, with 15 cannon and a considerable quantity of military stores.
1780.John Nicholas Hubert Hayer, a French ecclesiastic, died. His works display great zeal and learning.
1794.Mark Anthony Charrier, a French lawyer, beheaded at Paris. He was a member of the states general, and boldly opposed all innovations.
1786. Treaty of peace between the emperor of Morocco and the United States.
1789. The parliament of Paris insulted the king by a vote of thanks, but communicated their resolution only to the national assembly. The same day a great number of the nobility left France.
1794. Battle of Wigoya; the Poles defeated the Russians.
1795. Attack on the heights of St. Barbe at Quiberon, by the French emigrants, who were defeated by the French under Hoche, with the loss of 300.
1799. Aboukir in Egypt attacked and carried by assault by the Turks under Seid Mustapha Pasha, and the whole garrison, 700 in number, put to the sword. The castle of Aboukir with a garrison of 400, also surrendered immediately after.
1808. Battle of Baylen, in Spain, which terminated in the defeat and capture of general Dupont and his division, one of the first serious reverses of Napoleon in the peninsula.
1812. ColonelCasswith 280 men attacked and carried the bridge over the river Aux Canards, four miles from Malden. It was defended by a part of the British 41st regiment and some Indians.
1815.Bonapartesent a flag of truce and entered the Bellerophon man-of-war, captain Maitland, who proceeded with his illustriousruinto Torbay.
1832. The German diet, at Franckfort, issued a protocol suppressing the liberty of the press in Baden.
1833. Corner stone of New York University laid.
1838.George Domberger, a soldier under prince Eugene, died, aged 130. He married for the first time when in his 100th year. He was a special pensioner of the emperor of Austria.
1843.Samuel Hahnemann, founder of the homeopathic system of medical practice, died at Paris, aged 88.
1849.David B. Ogden, an eminent New York attorney, died. For more than half a century he was associated with the councils of the state and city of New York.
1849. Frost was seen at Pittsfield and vicinity, although the thermometer had been at 90° the day before.
1852.Louis Kossuth, the Hungarian revolutionist, left New York in the steamship Africa, for Liverpool, under the assumed name of Alexander Smith.
1854.Nathaniel Bowditch Blunt, an eminent New York attorney, died at Lebanon Springs.
1854. A day of humiliation and prayer observed at Bombay, and all over India, by the natives as well as the Europeans, for the success of the British arms.
1856. A formidable insurrection which had broken out at Madrid in Spain two days before, was suppressed after a sanguinary contest of 30 hours.
1857.Pierre Jean de Beranger, a French lyric poet, died, aged 77. Hissongs are at once a storehouse of gayety and satire, and a record of the history of his time.
855.Leo IV, pope, died. He was a wise and courageous pontiff, who, when the Saracens approached Rome to pillage it, boldly marched out to meet them, unsupported by the emperors of the east or the west. The Saracens were defeated with great slaughter, and the captives employed to adorn and fortify the city they had come to destroy. The famous pope Joan succeeded for a few days to the papal chair.
1085.Robert Guiscard, duke of Apulia, died at Corfu. He was a famous Norman knight, who assisted in the conquest of Naples from the Saracens.
1429.Charles VII, of France, crowned at Rheims. Joan of Arc, his supporter, was seated on horseback, helmeted, at his right side, with her triumphal banner unfurled.
1453.John Talbot, earl of Shrewsbury, killed. He distinguished himself in the reduction of Ireland, of which he was made governor by Henry V. This brave warrior, who was the terror of the French, and acquired the title of the English Achilles, accompanied the English army to France, and took several towns; but was finally killed in battle, near Castillon.
1525. An act of the English parliament was passed prohibiting the importation of any of Luther's books into England.
1530.Tindal'stranslation of thePentateuchwas published at Marlborow (Marburg), in the land of Hesse. The violence of the times rendered concealment necessary.
1652.Edward Sackville, earl Dorset, an English statesman, died. He was also sent with an army into Bohemia, and fought at the battle of Prague 1620.
1755. The British East India ship Doddington lost, and only 23 out of 273 persons saved.
1656. Battle of Valenciennes; the prince of Conde and don John of Austria, defeated the French under Turenne and La Ferte; the latter was captured. The French army was saved by the masterly manœuvres of Turenne.
1679.James Duport, an English divine, died, whose great erudition as a classical scholar is evinced in the learned works which he published.
1786. Thirteen elm trees removed by a storm in Devonshire, Eng., 200 yards where they afterwards took root.
1791. The first bank in Albany began to discount, being the present bank of Albany.
1793.Marie Joseph Chalier, a French revolutionist, guillotined. He was an admirer of the sanguinary character of Marat, whom he determined to imitate at Lyons, where he was a merchant. He erected a guillotine, and had already marked 900 victims for sacrifice, when he fell into the snare himself.
1793.Marie Anne Charlotte Corday d'Armans, the assassin of Marat, executed. She gained admittance to him while bathing, and when he declared some of his bloody designs, she plunged a dagger to his heart. She was 24 years of age, possessed rare charms of person, united with great courage, and was actuated by a sense of duty in ridding the world of a monster, at the expense of her own life.
1793. The crown revenue of Poland sequestered by order of the Russian ambassador.
1796.John Christian Hartwick, a Lutheran divine, died at Clermont, N. Y., aged about 90. He was eminent for his classical knowledge and literary abilities, and spent 62 years in the gospel ministry. He left a large estate for the promotion of religious purposes.
1796.John Baptist Secondat de Montesquieu, died. He was a son of the celebrated Montesquieu, and devoted himself to agricultural pursuits. He published several agricultural and scientific works.
1806.Richard Joseph Sullivan, an English writer, died. His works consist of travels, history, &c., &c.
1812. American privateer schooner Dolphin, 2 guns, captain Endicott, captured a British ship of 14 guns. She took six other prizes.
1812.Fort Michilimackinacwith a garrison of 57 United States troops, capitulated to the British, 306 men, 715 Indians.
1812. United States frigateConstitutionfell in with a British squadron, from which she effected her escape by the masterly seamanship of captain Hull, after a chase of 60 hours.
1813. A small number of volunteers with 40 soldiers from fort George, in two row-boats, captured at the head of the river St. Lawrence, a British gun-boat, mounting a 24 pounder, and 14 bateaux laden with 230 barrels of pork, and 200 bags of bread, and took 4 officers and 61 men.
1813. British and Indians made an attack on an outwork of the garrison at fort George, but were repulsed.
1832.John Carr, an English tourist, died at London; well known as a writer of tours and travels.
1853. An exhibition of relics was made at Aix-la-Chapelle, when more than 60,000 pilgrims entered the city to see them.
1854. The first party sent out under the auspices of the Massachusetts emigrant aid society, left Boston for the territory of Kansas.
1854. The American steamer Franklin, from Cowes for New York, went ashore on Long island beach, and was lost; the mails and passengers were safely landed.
1854.George C. Washington, a nephew of general Washington, died at Georgetown. He had been twice a member of congress, from his district in Maryland, was president of the Ohio and Chesapeake canal, and commissioner for the settlement of Indian claims. All his duties were performed with faithful attention and marked ability.
1854. An insurrection broke out at Madrid, and barriers were erected by the people in all parts of the city.
1856. A collision occurred on the North Pennsylvania rail road, near Philadelphia, when a Sunday school excursion on one of the trains had 60 killed and 78 wounded.
1856. The steam boat Northern Indiana was burnt on lake Erie, and over 30 persons lost.
1856. While a fire was raging at Salonica, Turkey, a terrific explosion of gunpowder occurred, killing and wounding 700 persons, among whom were the Dutch, Russian and Sardinian consuls.
390B. C.Battle of Allia, a river in Italy; the Romans defeated by the Gauls under Brennus, who destroyed the city, except the capitol.
1009.John XVIII, pope, died. He was a Roman; after him the right of election passed from the Roman people to the clergy. He resigned the dignity some time before his death, and died in the obscurity of a monastry.
1100.Godfrey de Bouillion, one of the heroes of the crusades, died. He was the son of a French count, defeated the armies of the sultan with great slaughter, and made himself master of all Palestine. He was elected king of Jerusalem, as a reward for his activity and heroism, which he declined for the humbler appellation of the duke of the holy sepulchre.
1390. On this and the two following days the parish clerks of London played interludes before Richard II and his queen, at Skinnerswells.
1566.William Rondelet, a French anatomist, died. He wrote a Latin treatise on fishes, 2 vols. folio, and various tracts on medicine, afterwards collected into a volume. His death was occasioned by eating figs to excess.
1639.Bernard, duke of Saxe-Weimar, died. He waged an active war with Austria, in which he was successful, till death stopped his career.
1656. Battle of Warsaw, which continued three days.
1675. The Narragansets, posted in a swamp were attacked by the colonists and defeated. They retreated to their recesses, where they remained till they discovered that it was determined to surround and starve them out, when they found means of escape.
1694. A body of 250 Indians under the sieur de Villieu fell with great fury on a village at Oyster river, in New Hampshire, and killed and captivated about a hundred persons, and burnt 20 houses.
1683. Battle under the walls of Vienna; the Turks defeated by the combined armies under John Sobieski of Poland. The vanquished fled with precipitation, leaving behind them the standard of Mahomet.
1705. The duke ofMarlboroughdefeated the French near Tirelemont, for which victory a thanksgiving was ordered in England.
1761.Thomas Sherlock, an eminent English prelate, died. His controversial works and sermons are well known. His private virtues were adorned with the purest acts of benevolence and humanity.
1775. A party of Americans under col. Ashe entered fort Johnson, on cape Fear river, in the dead of night, and burnt it, with the houses and other buildings. The governor, Martin, retired on board the king's ship Cruzier.
1782.Gabriel Francis Coyer, a French writer, died. He was originally a Jesuit, but abandoned the society for literature. He wrote bagatelles, morals, history, biography, travels, &c., all in a popular style, and translated Blackstone.
1786.John Baseillac de St. Cosme, an eminent lithotomist, died at Paris. His instruments were much used formerly.
1790.Adam Smith, a celebrated Scottish philosopher, died. HisWealth of Nationsprocured him immediate fame and emolument. HisLife of Humemarks him a deist.
1792.Kosciuskoat the head of 5,000 Poles, gave battle to the Russians, 14,000 in number, and was defeated with the loss of 1,100.
1792.John Paul Jonesdied in Paris. He was distinguished as a seaman. Yet though both in the United States and Russian service, he died in neglected poverty.
1794. The French under Moreau took Nieuwpoort, in Belgium; 300 emigrant prisoners taken were shot.
1802.Dumaresq, a British admiral, died, aged 73. He boasted that he had never employed a physician or a lawyer.
1806. Sale of the Leverian museum concluded. It was pronounced by those who had visited the most celebrated museums of Europe to be superior to any of them. The sale occupied 65 days. It was founded by sir Ashton Lever.
1806. The strong fortress of Gaeta surrendered to the armies of France, after a desperate resistance.
1814.Akim Nicholaevitch Makhimov, a Russian poet, died. His poem called theSpeaking Monkeys, composed in derision of Napoleon's attempt to take Moscow, is much admired.
1817.Jane Austen, an English authoress, died. Her writings were principally novels, which have lately been republished.
1820. The first chain bridge in England thrown over the Tweed, captain Brown architect. The river 437 feet wide.
1835.William Cobbett, a powerful and original English writer, died. He was editor of theRegistermore than thirty years, during which time he made himself sufficiently conspicuous as a violent and somewhat fickle politician. He was an extraordinary man, and the oracle of a multitude of his countrymen.
1839. Rev.William White, bishop of Pennsylvania, died. He was one of the first elected as chaplain to the United States congress.
1844.Jesse Bushyhead, a person of great distinction among his tribe, and chief justice of the supreme court of the Cherokees, died. He was a correct translator.
1848. The Mexican agitator,Paredes, defeated by Bustamente at Guanajanto, and totally routed. The belligerent priest, padre Jurauta was captured and immediately shot.
1848. The Indians, in Yucatan, repulsed at all points, and the towns in their possession retaken by the whites. The Indians at this time were waging a war of extermination against the whites.
1853. The Atlantic and St. Lawrence rail road, from Portland to Montreal, was opened throughout its whole length of two hundred and ninety miles.
1854. A tremendous hurricane prevailed at Davenport, Ill., causing great destruction of life and property.
1854. A negro woman died in Virginia, aged 140.
1855.W. R. Henry, a late captain of the Texas volunteers, issued a proclamation to the people of Texas and the Mexicans, that he and his companions intended to cross the Rio Grande, to aid in overthrowing Santa Anna, and in establishing a government more favorable to the interests of Texas.
64. The firing of Rome in the reign of Nero is placed by des Vignoles on the 19th July; the day also on which it was sacked by the Senonian Gauls. (SeeJune 18.)
1203. Fall of Constantinople to the Venitian crusaders, when Isaac Angelus, feeble and blind, was solemnly reseated, with his son Alexius, upon the imperial throne.
1242. Battle of Taillebourg, upon the Charente, in France. The French king, at the head of a vast and superior force, carried the bridge, and the English under Henry, the royal palmer, after a desperate stand, gave way, and were driven with rapidity to Saintes.
1333.Edward IIIdefeated the Scots at Halidown with great slaughter, which defeat was followed by the surrender of Berwick which Edward annexed to England.
1374.Francesco Petrarca, the celebrated Italian poet, died, aged 70. His talents and learning contributed greatly to the revival of literature, and he has been justly styled the father of modern poetry.
1573.John Caius, an English physician, died. He visited the most learned institutions in Europe to improve himself in his profession, and when he finally settled in London became extremely popular as a practitioner. He endowed a college, which bears his name.
1610. The foundation of the famed and valuable Bodleian library was laid at Oxford.
1629. Quebec capitulated to the English under Louis and Thomas Kerth. This was 130 years before its final conquest by Wolfe.
1693. Battle of Landon in which the confederates were defeated by the French with great slaughter.
1701. The confederated tribes of Indians surrendered to the English, at Albany, their beaver hunting country, lying between lakes Ontario and Erie, to be by them defended for the said confederated Indians, their heirs and successors forever.
1743.William Somerville, an English poet, died. On the completion of his education he settled on his paternal estate, became known as a magistrate and a country gentleman, and devoted his leisure to the muses.
1763.Nathaniel Hooke, an English historian, died. He is little known, except by hisHistory of Rome, 4 volumes 4to.
1777. Logan's fort, Kentucky, besieged by 200 Indians. The garrison consisting of 16 men, who repelled the savages.
1779. Battle of Paulus Hook; the British garrison surprised and made prisoners by the Americans under general Lee. The commandant of the fort and a few Hessiansescaped; 30 were killed and 161 taken. American loss 6 killed or wounded.
1783.Job Orton, an excellent English dissenting divine, died; author of many valuable works, among which is a life of Dr. Doddridge.
1794. A revolution commenced at Geneva in Switzerland, headed by two commissioners of the French revolution residing there.
1806. Action off Feroe islands, between British frigate Blanche and French frigate Guerrier, 50 guns, 317 men. The latter was captured in 45 minutes, with the loss of 26 killed, 30 wounded; British loss, 4 wounded. The Guerrier was taken from the British by captain Hull, in 1812.
1808. Battle of Baylen, in Spain; the French under Dupont defeated by the Spaniards. Dupont and 2,600 fell, after a desperate action from 3 o'clock in the morning till noon, when the French sued for terms. A convention was agreed upon, by which they were to lay down their arms, and be conveyed to France; accordingly 14,000 soldiers defiled before the Spanish army, laid down their arms, and all their military accoutrements, and were conducted to Cadiz. The officers were sent home, but the soldiers were placed in hulks, where they remained some years; until the few that survived the miseries of their confinement, driven to despair, cut the cables of their prison-ships, drifted out of the harbor, and were saved by their countrymen then besieging Cadiz.
1810. The king of Prussia issued a decree forbidding American vessels to enter his ports.
1812. Battle at the bridge Aux Canards. 150 volunteers under colonel M'Arthur while reconnoitering fell into an ambush and were fired upon by a party of Indians under Tecumseh. The Indians were routed.
1812. United States brig Nautilus, 12 guns, captured by a squadron of British frigates.
1814. Action off Sandy hook, between the United States privateer Gen. Armstrong and British sloop Henrietta; the latter was captured, laden with stores for the fleet in Chesapeake bay.
1814.Matthew Flinders, an English navigator, died. He explored a part of the coast of New Holland; but lost his ship in that enterprise, and on his return home was held a captive in the isle of France 6 years, and deprived of his papers.
1824.Augustin Iturbide, emperor of Mexico, shot. He entered the army at a very early age. In 1820 he took up arms for the cause of freedom, and led his army on to a series of splendid victories. He became suddenly popular, and was raised to the throne; but was as suddenly deposed and banished. His execution was occasioned by his return.
1836.Lefebure de Cheverus, arch bishop of Bordeaux, died. He came to America after the French revolution, and was consecrated first catholic bishop of Boston, 1810. He was a man of distinguished talents, and extensive scientific and literary acquirements. He returned to France at the invitation of Louis XVIII.
1848.Robert Swartwoutdied; quartermaster general in the war of 1812, and afterwards known as a politician.
1849.Harmanus Bleecker, a prominent and universally respected citizen of Albany, died, aged 70. He was minister for the United States at the Hague for several years.
1849.George Tibbitsof Troy, well known in the councils and commerce of the state of New York, died.
1849. The excavation for the passage of the double track of the Utica and Schenectady rail way through the rock at Little Falls, Herkimer county, New York, was completed. 30,000 yards of granite were taken out and 1,600 kegs of powder consumed in the operation.
1853. The Danish parliament was prorogued, and a fundamental law issued, by which the government became an absolute one.
1854. The insurrection at Madrid (see17th) triumphed, and the Rivas ministry resigned.
1855.Joseph L. Folsom, first collector of the customs at San Francisco, died, aged 38. He was educated at West Point, and after serving in Florida, went to California with a New York regiment in 1847. He was reputed the richest man in California.
1857. A fire broke out in Taiefa, Portugal, which spread over an immense district of agricultural country, consuming a vast quantity of standing grain, country houses, barns, &c.
1322B. C.The great Canicular cycle of the Egyptians, consisting of 1460 years, began with the sun in Cancer, 15 days after the summer solstice. Its first revolution was just completed with the reign of Adrian, 138A. D.; its second in the time of Shakspeare, 1598. The famous expedition of the Argonauts, and the foundation of the Pythian games, are events which chronologists have placedsixty yearsafterwards.
44B. C.The customary games in memory of Cæsar's victories were exhibited by Octavius upon this day, dedicated to Venus Mater, when he produced the hero's golden spectatorial chair. The anniversary is interesting from the fact of a comet having appeared near theGreat Bear, which was visible for seven days.
1031.Robert(the Wise), king of France, died. He refused the crown of the empire and of Italy, satisfied to rule his own subjects, for whose happiness he labored earnestly.
1164.Peter Lombard, bishop of Paris, died; calledMaster of the Sentences, from a work of his by that name, which has been ably commented on by succeeding divines.
1546. The emperorCharles Vplaced the protestant confederates under the ban of the empire; whereupon they declared war upon him. (SeeJuly 15.)
1553. Lady Jane Grey'snine days' usurpationterminated.
1620. Massacre of the protestants in the Valteline in Switzerland. It began on this day and extended to all the towns of the district; it was a labor of three days.
1650.John Prideaux, an English prelate, died. He rose from the ranks of poverty and dependence to be bishop of Worcester; and sunk back again to his original level rather than compromise with the republicans.
1655.Robert Brookedied; he was the first settler in Patuxent, Maryland.
1691.Adrian Augustin de Bussy Delamet, a French ecclesiastic, died. He was of a noble family, and wrote among other things aDictionary of Cases of Conscience, 2 volumes folio.
1704.Peregrine White, the first-born of Plymouth colony, died at Marshfield, aged nearly 84.
1752.John Christopher Pepusch, an eminent Prussian musician, died in England. His abilities were so early displayed, that at the age of 14 he was employed to teach music to the prince royal at Berlin.
1759. The English general,Prideaux, commanding the enterprise against Niagara, while directing the operations of the siege, was killed by the bursting of a cohorn.
1779.Dougal Graham(the Rhymer), chronicler of the events of the rebellion of 1741, died.
1788. Action off Hoogland between the Russian fleet of 17 ships, and Swedish fleet of 15. It continued from 5P. M.till near midnight, and ended in the defeat of the Russians, who had one ship sunk and one of 74 guns and 780 men captured. The Swedish fleet was inferior to the Russian in the size of the vessels as well as in number.
1794. A revolutionary tribunal established at Geneva, in Switzerland; about 2,000 persons arrested; 200 on the proscription list escaped.
1814. GeneralBrownmoved his whole force upon fort George, but not being supported by the fleet on account of Com. Chauncey's illness, fell back on the 22d to Queenstown.
1814. The British fort St. Joseph taken possession of by colonel Croghan.
1814. Privateer generalArmstrongarrived at New York, having captured 11 vessels.
1819.John Playfair, a celebrated Scottish mathematician, died. He was also eminent as a geologist and geographer. His largest work is a system of geography in 5 volumes.
1825.William Brown, a celebrated gem engraver, died. He was first patronized by Catharine of Russia, and subsequently by the king of France; but the storm of the revolution drove him from Paris to London, where he executed many excellent works.
1843. The Chinese city Chin-keang-foo was captured by the British forces under sir H. Pottinger.
1844.John Halsam, a British author on insanity, died in London.
1852. The obsequies of Henry Clay celebrated with the greatest pomp and magnificence in New York. The city was shrouded in mourning, business was suspended, and the shipping wore their colors at half-mast.
1854.Caroline Bowles, widow of Southey, died at Buckland, England; a poetess of some merit.
1855. A great portion of the village of Chamouni, in Savoy, destroyed by fire.
1857.Thomas Dick, a Scottish astronomer, died near Dundee, aged 83. HisChristian Philosopherand some other works are popular in both continents.
1756A. M.The window of the ark opened 40 days after the appearance of the tops of the mountains, 1st of 10th month, (June 11). SeeNov. 2.
330B. C.Darius III(Codomanus), the last king of the ancient Persian empire, assassinated. He was conquered by Alexander the Great, and treacherously slain by Bessus, governor of Bactria, his own general, who hoped to succeed to the sovereignty. With his death the Persian empire became extinct, after a lapse of 228 years from its establishment by Cyrus.
365. A memorable earthquake whichshook the greatest part of the Roman world, and deluged the lower shores of the Mediterranean. The city of Alexandria annually commemorated the fatal day, in which 50,000 inhabitants lost their lives in that inundation.
1403. Battle of Shrewsbury, between Henry IV and Henry Percy (Hotspur). Their numbers were matched and the mutual slaughter was immense; several earls, 2,300 gentlemen, and 6,000 privates were slain. Hotspur was brained by an Englishcloth yard, and his rival in execution, Douglas, was taken prisoner. But for the disparity in prudence, the dynasty upon the English throne would probably have been reversed. (20th? 22d?)
1575.Francis Marullo, or Maurolico, abbot of Messina and an eminent astronomer, died. Owing to the illiberality of the age in which he lived much of his treatise on comets was suppressed.
1586.Thomas Cavendishsailed upon an American expedition, at his own expense, in three ships, with 123 persons, victualed for 2 years, and circumnavigated the earth. It was the second English voyage round the world, and was effected in two years and two months, with the loss of two of his ships. On his voyage he pillaged and burnt several Spanish settlements on the west coast of America.
1667. Treaty of Breda, between the English, French and Dutch, when New York was exchanged for Surinam, and Antigua and Montserrat restored to the British.
1601.Peter Airaultdied; a magistrate of Paris of great integrity and firmness, by which he acquired the title ofthe rock of the accused.
1637.Daniel Sennertus, a learned German physician, died. He was the son of a shoemaker, rose to great celebrity, and was one of the first to introduce the study of chemistry among his pupils.
1683.William Russel, duke of Bedford, executed. This was one of the arbitrary measures of the reign of Charles II. An attempt was afterwards made to satisfy the ends of justice in this affair by seeking out the instigators of the deed, and restoring his family to their privileges and estates.
1688.James Butler, duke of Ormond, died; a celebrated statesman and warrior in the reign of Charles II, to whose restoration he materially contributed.
1772.Peter Barral, a French ecclesiastic, died. He distinguished himself by the production of several useful works, and among them a historical dictionary.
1773. PopeClement XIVsigned the famous bull which pronounced the extinction of the society of Jesuits.
1788.Gaetano Filangieridied at Naples; one of the most celebrated political economists of the last century.
1789.M. Foulonand his son-in-law,Berthier, massacred at Paris; they are numbered as the 8th and 9th victims of the revolution.
1796.Robert Burns, the Scottish poet, died. In the humble employment of a ploughman, he discovered a most extraordinary genius, which has given to his productions an enduring fame.
1797.Peter Thelluson, a Swiss resident in London, died. He accumulated an immense property, the bulk of which he left to be funded till it should amount to £140,000,000, when, if he should have no lineal descendants, it was to be applied to thesinking fundof Great Britain.
1798. Battle of the Pyramids in Egypt. Murad with 22 other beys were defeated by the French under Bonaparte, with the loss of 40 cannon, 40 camels, and their whole baggage and provisions. Cairo surrendered to theking of fire, as the Mamelukes termed the combative Corsican, and the whole of Lower Egypt submitted to his arms.
1814. The inquisition reestablished in Spain by Ferdinand. It had been suspended during the reign of Bonaparte.
1815.Harriet Acklanddied in England, aged 66. Her husband was wounded and taken prisoner at Saratoga in 1777, and the interest felt for her on the occasion, and the hardships and dangers she encountered have made her the subject of history.
1827.Archibald Constable, if not the most fortunate by far the most eminent publisher that ever adorned the Scottish capital, died. He directed the printing and publishing of theEdinburgh Review, &c.
1831.Leopold, king of Belgium, made his entry into Brussels, and took the oath of the constitution.
1832. The sultan of Turkey gave his assent to the extension of the Greek frontier, as required by the London conference, from the gulf of Arta to that of Volo, and recognized the independence of the Greek states.
1838.John Maelzel, an ingenious German mechanist, died. He visited many countries of Europe and America with Kempelin's automaton chess-player, which he improved by giving it the powers of speech. He also invented several automata of surprising powers, which are familiar throughout the country.
1848. The cities of Dublin and Waterford proclaimed by the lord lieutenant of Ireland to be under the coercion act.
1849.Elizabeth Dodddied at Stephens, New Brunswick, aged 111.
1849.Ebenezer Mack, long and favorably known as a distinguished printer and the conductor of the largest book establishment in western New York, died at Ithaca.
1853.Thomas P. Mooredied at Harrodsburg, Ky., aged 57; an officer in the war of 1812, member of congress, minister to Colombia in 1829, and lieutenant-colonel in the regular army in Mexico.
1855. The fortress of Frederickshamm was attacked by the allied fleet, and its garrison driven out.
310B. C.The Carthaginians defeated Agathocles, who nevertheless carried the war into Africa.
711.Roderick, the last of the Goths, is overthrown by Tarik, or Xeres, upon the Guadelete, in Spain.
1298. Battle of Falkirk; the Scots under Wallace defeated with great slaughter by the English under Edward I. Wallace escaped, but his sun had now sunk forever, and the remainder of his life was spent in his native forests, a fugitive. The number of slain in the Scottish army is by some represented as high as 50,000. Guy, earl of Warwick, "the black dog of Arden," then a young adventurer for fame, signalized his prowess in the ranks of Edward on this occasion.
1403. Battle of Shrewsbury, in which the forces under Douglas, Percy and Owen Glendower were defeated, and the earl of Northumberland's son, Henry Hotspur, slain.
1461.Charles VII, king of France, died. He succeeded in driving the English from his kingdom, by the assistance of Joan of Arc; but having restored peace he relapsed into sensuality, and died of anguish and starvation at the undutiful conduct of his son.
1534.John FrithandAndrew Hewetburnt at Smithfield for heretical opinions relative to the sacrament; Henry VIII king.
1575.PetersandTurwert, two anabaptists, burnt at Smithfield, in presence of an immense crowd of spectators.
1581.Richard Cox, bishop of Ely, died. He was the chief framer of the liturgy, and translator of the Bible, calledThe Bishop's Bible, made in the reign of Elizabeth.
1589.Henry III, of France, assassinated. His reign was distracted by the quarrels between the catholics and protestants, till he fell a victim to the zeal of a priest named Clement, and the house of Valois became extinct.
1674.Gerbrant Vanden Eeckhout, a Dutch painter, died. He was a pupil of Rembrant, whom he rivaled in merit and popularity.
1676. PopeClement Xdied. He was a Roman, and in disposition mild.
1686. City of Albany incorporated.
1698.Claude Boyer, a dramatic writer, died at Paris.
1704. Gibraltar (Gebel al Tarik, the mountain of Tarik, where the Saracens landed), taken by the British under sir Geo. Rooke, in whose possession it has ever since continued.
1706. Treaty for the union of Scotland with England signed. It was ratified by parliament and queen Anne, and went into operation May 1, the following year.
1734.Peter King, chancellor of England, died. He was a grocer and salter in his boyhood, that being the trade of his father; but his genius soared to higher occupations, and he became a student. His abilities were appreciated and rewarded by a succession of high and responsible offices.
1763.John Dalton, an English divine, died. He prepared Milton's masque ofComusfor the stage; sought out the poet's grand-daughter, then overwhelmed with age and poverty, and procured her a benefit which produced £120. His works consist of sermons, poems, &c.
1776. The foundation stone of the far-famed observatory on Calton hill, near Edinburgh, Scotland, was laid.
1779. Battle of Minisink.
1793. The city of Mentz surrendered to the Prussians.
1794.John Benjamin de la Borde, a French writer, guillotined. He was valet to Louis XV, upon whose death he was appointed farmer-general.
1802. Action between the United States frigate Constellation, captain Murray, and 9 Tripolitan gun boats. Four of them were driven on shore, and the remainder took shelter in Tripoli.
1802.Marie Francis Xavier Bichat, an eminent French physician and author, died, aged 31.
1805. Action off Feroll, between the British fleet, 11 sail, and the French and Spanish fleets, in which the latter were defeated with the loss of two large ships captured.
1807. Battle of Novoleski; the advance of the Russians under prince Bagration defeated a strong body of French chasseurs with great slaughter, taking only 150 prisoners. Bagration rushed on, and near Mohiloff a sanguinary action took place. French loss 4,000; Russians lost 3,000.
1812. Battle of Salamanca, in Spain; the British under Wellington defeated the French under Marmont, who lost an arm. Of the French, 7,000 were taken prisoners,and it was owing to the night and Clausel's skill and science that the army was saved from destruction. British loss 5,220.
1813.George Shawdied; an eminent English naturalist and writer on zoology, and principal keeper of natural history in the British museum.
1823.William Bertram, a distinguished American botanist died, aged 82. His father was the first American who conceived and carried into effect the design of a botanical garden, for the cultivation of American plants as well as exotics.
1826.Joseph Piazzi, a celebrated astronomer, died at Palermo. He made a new catalogue of the stars, consisting of 7,646, and in 1801 discovered an eighth planet, which he named Ceres Ferdinandia. He is the author of several scientific works.
1832.Francis Charles Joseph Bonaparte, duke of Reichstadt, died, aged 21. He was the only son of Napoleon Bonaparte and Maria Louisa; is said to have possessed distinguished talents, united with great kindness of disposition, and early gave indications that his ruling passion was military ambition.
1833.William Thompsondied at Hickory hill, Baltimore county, Md., aged 112.
1836.Armand Carrel, a French republican, killed in a duel. He was principal editor of theNationelof Paris. A monument by David is over his grave.
1839. Ghuznee, one of the strongest places in Asia, defended by a garrison of 3,500 Afghans, under a son of the ex-king of Cabul, was taken by the British under general Keane; 500 of the garrison being killed and the rest taken. British loss about 200.
1850.Sarah Margaret Fuller d'Ossoli, a distinguished American authoress, with her husband and child, perished near Fire island, on their homeward passage to New York.
1852.Excelmans, a noted French general, died at Paris, aged 77. He first gained distinction under Oudinot, in 1799; commanded a part of the cavalry at Waterloo, and was raised to the dignity of marshal of France.
1854. A new planet was discovered by the astronomer Hind, from the observatory at Regents park, London.
1401. The city of Bagdad sacked by the Tartars under Tamerlane (Timour the Lame,) who erected on her ruins a pyramid of 90,000 heads.
1531. Treaty of Nuremberg between Charles V and the reformers, and soon after solemnly ratified by the diet of Ratisbon.
1562.Gœtz von Berlichingen(with the iron hand), a bold, restless and warlike German knight, died. He placed himself at the head of the rebellious peasantry in the war which they waged against their oppressors, but was soon taken prisoner.
1584.Elizabeth Russeldied; an English lady, distinguished for a well cultivated mind and a taste for literature.
1584.John Day, an eminent English printer, died. He was the first who printed in Greek and Saxon characters in England, and is deserving of remembrance for his enterprise in the publication of many extensive works, the effect of which was to facilitate the progress of the reformation.
1588. Date of the oldest preserved newspaper in England, theEnglish Mercurie, by queen Elizabeth. It had been printed at intervals before, as this was the fiftieth number, and is still preserved in the British museum. It is printed in the Roman character. (May 28.)
1602. Thelactealsdiscovered by Caspar Asselli, while dissecting a dog. The discovery was accidental.
1627.Robert Shirley, a native of England, died in Persia. He made a visit to Persia, and was induced to settle there; became a favorite with the emperor, who gave him his niece in marriage, and sent him as his ambassador to Poland and England.
1637. Thecuttiestool thrown by a woman at the head of the bishop, in St. Giles's church, Edinburgh.
1691.Henry Sloughter, governor of the province of New York, died, after a short, weak and turbulent administration, and was buried in Stuyvesant's vault, next to the old Dutch governor.
1692.Giles Menage, a learned French author, died. He acquired the title of the Varro of his time, and became so popular that Mazarin even was jealous of him. He left numerous valuable works.
1712.Achille de Harleydied; first president of the parliament of Paris, and an upright magistrate.
1741. Battle of Williamstadt, in Sweden, between the Russians and Swedes.
1752.Alexander Politi, an Italian professor of great learning, died at Pisa. He published an edition of Eustathius'sCommentary on Homer, with a Latin translation, and notes, 5 vols. folio; a labor of great value.
1757. Zittau, in Saxony, bombarded, taken and destroyed by the Austrians; the inhabitants, as well as the Prussian troops who defended it were put to the sword.
1758. Battle of Sangershausen; the Hessians defeated by the French under Soubise; who, although victorious, lost 2,000 men.
1765. In Lapland, 120 reindeer were struck dead by lightning.
1773.George Edwards, styled the father of ornithologists, died, aged 81. He was apprenticed to a trade, but as soon as his indentures expired he began to travel, and extended his researches into various countries of Europe. The first volume of his work appeared in 1743, and the whole was completed in 1764, in 7 vols. 4to, containing engravings and descriptions of upwards of 600 subjects in natural history never before delineated.
1779. The Minisink settlements in Orange co., N. Y., attacked by the Indians under Brant, by whom it was also plundered and burnt, and the inhabitants either killed or carried away.
1780. Battle in North Carolina, between 300 militia under colonel Lock, and the British and tories under Moore. The latter proposed a cessation of hostilities for one hour, which being agreed to, he decamped with his party.
1785. The Germanic union concluded; the last act of importance of the life of Frederick II.
1793.Roger Sherman, one of the signers, died.
1794.Alexander Beauharnais, a French general, guillotined. He served in the American war under Rochambeau, was some time president of the national assembly of France, afterwards commanded the army of the Rhine, and in 1793 was minister of war. He was condemned on a false accusation, and perished at the age of 34. His widow, Josephine, was the first wife of Bonaparte.
1800.John Francis Vauvilliers, a learned Greek scholar, died. He was for 20 years professor of Greek at Paris, but finally driven out by the revolution, and invited to St. Petersburg by the emperor, where he died.
1816.Elizabeth Hamiltondied; an English lady of great talents and acquirements, who left several excellent works on various subjects.
1816. The Enterprise arrived at Charleston from Savannah; being the first steam boat ever seen in that city it excited a great deal of curiosity.
1832. Battle near Coimbra, Portugal, between the forces of Don Pedro, 8,000 men, and those of Don Miguel, 12,500, in which the latter were defeated.
1836.Hugh Shawdied, aged 113.
1838.Frederick Cuvier, the well known French naturalist, died at Strasburg.
1855.Joseph C. Hart, American consul, died at Santa Cruz, Canary islands. He was a man of literary taste and an author.
1855. The insurgent Mexicans under general Vidauri, at Saltillo, defeated the government forces under generals Cruz and Guitian, and drove them from the city.