1854. Rail road inaugurated in Sardinia, running between Turin and Susa; the king and queen, the government officials, and a great concourse of people participating.
1855. The convent suppression bill passed the Sardinian senate.
1856.Preston S. Brooks, a South Carolina member of congress, wickedly and cowardly assaulted Charles Summer, senator from Massachusetts, while seated at his desk in the senate chamber, and felled him to the floor with a cane, in retaliation for abusive language in debate.
1270B. C.Larcherplaces the chronology of the fall of Troy upon this day.
63B. C.Jerusalem taken by Pompey on the 23d day of the Hebrew month Sivan, in the consulate of Cicero, a day that was then observed as a fast, in remembrance of the defection and idolatry of Jeroboam,who made Israel to sin.
37B. C.Jerusalem fell into the hands of Herod, in the consulate of Agrippa; it being one of those septenniary periods called sabbatic years.
683.Leo II, pope, died; an able and resolute pontiff; established the kiss of peace at the mass, and the use of holy water.
1125.Henry Vof Germany died; leaving an odious character.
1430. The town of Compiegne in France was besieged by the combined forces of England and Burgundy, and defended by Joan of Arc.
1455. Battle of St. Albans (first of the roses), between the Lancastrians under Henry VI, and the Yorkists. The former were defeated with the loss of 3 earls, 49 barons and about 5,000 men killed, and the king himself was wounded in the neck and taken prisoner. Loss of the other party 500.
1498.Geronimo Savanarola, an Italian monk, burnt. His influence was so great at Florence, that for several years he guided the state as its sovereign; but when he attacked the corruptions of the church of Rome and the infamous conduct of pope Alexander VI, neither his purity nor his popularity could save him from destruction.
1533.Cranmerpronounced sentence of divorce between Henry VIII and Catharine of Arragon.
1609. The company of South Virginia not realizing the expected profit from its colony, obtained from king James a new charter, with more ample privileges. Their territory extended 400 miles on the Atlanticcoast, and "from the Atlantic westward to the South sea."
1610. The English wrecked on the island of Bermudas (seeJuly 24), having built two small vessels and paid the seams with lime and tortoise oil, arrived in them at the settlement of Jamestown; they found the inhabitants reduced from 500 to 60, by famine; and seeing no other means of preserving them than by abandoning the country, they took them all on board, with the intention of returning to England. At this juncture lord Delaware arrived with three ships, 150 men, and plenty of provisions, and settled the colony.
1679. It was discovered that 27 members of the English parliament had been pensioners on the government.
1692. Third action off La Hogue, between the British and French fleets; 6 ships of the latter burnt.
1701.William Kiddwith others executed at Execution dock, London, for piracy. In America every reminiscence of Kidd has yet an air of romance.
1706. Battle of Ramilles, in Belgium, between the French under Villeroy, and the allies under the duke of Marlborough, in which the latter were signally victorious. The armies contained about 60,000 men each; the loss of the French was 15,000, that of the allies 4,000.
1720. The French Mississippi scheme, projected by John Law, dissolved, like those bright floating circles which amuse and vex the hopes of children of a lesser growth.
1752.Wm. Bradford, a noted American printer, died, aged 94. He established the first printing office in Philadelphia, and also in New York. He was government printer more than fifty years, and is said to have walked over a great part of the city of New York on the day he died.
1764.Francis Algarottidied; an Italian, eminent as a connoisseur and critic in every branch ofbelles-lettres, and an author of repute.
1783.James Otis, an American patriot and statesman, killed by lightning. He was one of the most zealous and active promoters of the revolution.
1785.William Woollet, a celebrated English historical and landscape engraver, died. The death of general Wolfe from West's painting is probably his best.
1786.Mauritius Augustus Benyowsky, an extraordinary Hungarian adventurer, killed on the island of Madagascar in an action with the French.
1783. South Carolina adopted the federal constitution, recommending amendments, being the 8th state in succession; votes 149 to 73.
1793. Battle of Famars; the French defeated by the allies, consisting of Austrians, Prussians, British, Hanoverians, Hessians and Dutch.
1794.Cecile Regnaultattempted to assassinate Robespierre and Collot d'Herbois.
1798. The rebellion of the united Irishmen commenced.
1798. LadyEdward Fitzgerald, the celebrated Pamela, daughter of the duke of Orleans, ordered to quit the kingdom.
1808. Riots among the English weavers on account of wages.
1812.Louis Dutens, a French miscellaneous writer, died.
1815.G. Henry Ernest Muehlenburgh, an American Lutheran divine, died. He was a man of extensive science, particularly eminent as a botanist.
1816. Massacre of the Christians by the Turks at Bona in Algiers.
1836.Edward Livingston, an eminent American jurist, died. He was a native of New York, and after holding various offices, removed to New Orleans, where on the invasion of Louisiana by the British, he offered his services to general Jackson, and acted as aid. He was afterwards secretary of state at Washington and minister to France, in which offices he manifested distinguished ability.
1841.Samuel Dale, an eminent pioneer in the settlement of the southwest, died in Lauderdale county, Mississippi. He was remarkable for his courage and bodily strength, and distinguished for his contests with the Indians, and as an officer in the last war with England.
1848. Freedom of the negroes proclaimed at St. Pierre, Martinique; an insurrection followed, and several houses and 32 persons were burnt.
1850.Grinnell'sships of discovery sailed from New York in search of sir John Franklin.
1851.Richard Lalor Sheil, a British statesman and dramatist, died at Florence, aged 59. He was minister of queen Victoria at the court of Tuscany.
1855. The state of siege and blockade of the island of Cuba was withdrawn.
1085.Gregory VII(Hildebrand), pope, died. He was the son of a carpenter, and when raised to the papal throne embroiled himself in disputes and dissensions till he was compelled to retire.
1153.David I, king of Scotland, died. He married Maud, daughter of William the conqueror, and is characterized as a mild and popular king.
1276. A capitation tax of three pennieslaid on every Jew in England above the age of 12 years, and all above the age of 7 to wear a yellow badge.
1357.Edwardtheblack prince, conducted his captive, John, king of France, through the city of London, in triumph.
1430.Joan of Arc, after performing prodigies of valor, deserted and alone, was taken prisoner by the English, after her horse was slain, in a sally from Compiegne.
1543.Nicholas Copernicus, the great astronomer, died, aged 70. After a constant devotion of 43 years to the study, he produced his immortal work,De Orbium Cœlestium Revolutionibus. The work was excommunicated by the pope, and although the planets continued their revolutions, it was not till 278 years after, namely, in 1821, that the papal court annulled the sentence!
1551.Von Pannis, an eminent surgeon of England, burnt to death for denying the divinity of Christ.
1572.Drakesailed from England on his voyage of reprisal to the West-Indies, against the Spanish.
1612.Robert Cecil, earl of Salisbury, died; an English statesman, the ablest minister of his time.
1651.Louis XIVof France purchased of the West-India company, for the benefit of the knights of Malta, the islands of St. Christopher, St. Bartholomew, St. Martin and San Cruz, for the sum of 120,000 livres turnois. (SeeAugust 10, 1665.)
1663. South Carolina erected into a separate province. First permanent settlement began in 1669; original charter included North Carolina and Georgia.
1686. An eruption of mount Ætna, which extended its ravages four leagues around, and buried several persons alive.
1689. Passage of the well known toleration act of England, which so greatly relieved the dissenters.
1692. Four days' action off La Hogue; the remainder of the French ships, seven in number, and a great many transports and ammunition ships burnt.
1698. PereGerbillon, a Jesuit missionary, set out on his eighth and last journey to Tartary, in the train of the Chinese grandees, sent by the emperor to hold an assembly of the Kalka Tartars, who had been several years in rebellion, and to regulate the affairs of the country. (SeeApril 1,Oct. 13.)
1715.William Readdied; originally a cobbler, became a mountebank, and practiced medicine by the light of nature! Queen Anne and George I honored him with the care of their eyes! He could neither write nor read, but such was the success of his practice, that he rode in his own chariot, and "dispensed good punch from golden bowls."
1775.John Hancockelected president of congress; he succeeded Peyton Randolph in that office.
1777. ColonelMeigsmade a successful attack on the British stores at Sag harbor, destroyed 12 British brigs and schooners, and great quantities of stores, and brought away 90 British prisoners, without sustaining any loss.
1786.Charles William Scheele, an eminent Swedish chemist, died. His discoveries were numerous, though his experiments were made under great disadvantages.
1792.George Brydges, lord Rodney, a celebrated British admiral, died, aged 74.
1794. Battle of the Sambre, in the Netherlands, in which general Kaunitz defeated the French, who lost 3,000 taken prisoners, and 50 cannon.
1798. Several battles were fought at different places between the English troops and United Irishmen, in which the latter were generally defeated.
1811. The Seringapatam, prize to the United States frigate Essex, capt. Gamble, captured by the British sloop of war Cherub, at the Sandwich islands.
1814. PopePius VII, whose powers had been abridged by Napoleon, made his grand public entry into Rome, to resume the throne.
1822. Battle of Pichinca, fought near the volcano of that name. The Columbians under Sucre succeeded in gaining the vicinity of Quito by marching over the frozen mountains of Cotopaxi, by which, and several other daring movements, the Spaniards were compelled to hazard a battle, and sustained a total defeat. The patriots thus became possessed of the entire province, with all the Spanish magazines and stores, and the road to Peru was left open to Bolivar.
1833.John Randolph, of Roanoke, an American statesman, died, aged 60. He was a descendant in the 7th generation, from Pocahontas, the Indian woman who saved the life of capt. Smith, and was distinguished for genius, eloquence and eccentricity.
1839.William Legget, an American poet, and miscellaneous writer, died. He was a man of talent, and employed by government as charge d'affaire to Central America.
1844.James Thatcher, a surgeon of the revolutionary army and author of theMilitary JournalandHistory of Plymouth, died at Plymouth, Mass.
1845.William Ramsaydied in Boone county, Mo., aged 104. Early a pioneer and Indian fighter in Kentucky.
535B. C.The foundations of the second temple at Jerusalem, laid by thechildren of the captivity, by permission of Cyrus, on the twenty-fifth of Sivan.
67B. C.Titus Vespasiantook the city of Joppa, in Galilee, by assault, on the 25th of the month Dæsius.
337.Constantinethe Great died, having divided the empire among his children and nephews.
709.Aldhem, an English divine, died; said to have been the first Englishman who cultivated poetry.
1261.Alexander IV, pope, died. He bestowed the crown of Sicily on Edmund, son of the king of England, and attempted to unite the Greek and Latin churches.
1315.Edward Bruceinvaded Ireland with 6000 men. "He fought many battles and gained them all," and was for a brief period king of the country.
1427.Alexander, lord of the isles, performed penance of submission to king James in his shirt and drawers, before the congregation of Holyrood church.
1510.Georges d'Amboisea French cardinal and statesman, died; a great benefactor to France.
1622.Petrus Plancius, who with others contributed so much to the discovery of New Netherland and other countries, died at Amsterdam.
1625.William Barlowe, died; celebrated as the discoverer of the nature and properties of the loadstone.
1630. Eight Englishmen left by mischance in Greenland by their ship, were found on this day by their countrymen, having by good economy and wise expedients, succeeded in passing the winter without loss of life. (SeeJan. 14, 1634, andAp. 16, 1634.)
1681.Don Pedro de la Barca, a noble Spanish dramatist, died; who together with Lope de Vega, gave law to and polished the Spanish theatre. His works comprise 10 vols. quarto.
1743.James Antony Arlaud, a celebrated Swiss painter, died.
1760. Insurrection of the negroes in Jamaica. The loss to the island, in human flesh and blood, was $500,000.
1775. SirGuy Johnson, called an Indian council at Guy Park, where the Mohawks alone attended; his object being to provide against a rumored attack upon his person by the revolutionists.
1775. Generals Howe, Clinton and Burgoyne, arrived at Boston.
1776. Congress resolved to engage the services of the Indians.
1778. About 500 British and Hessians from Rhode Island destroyed at Kickmut river, 70 boats and other property; burnt the church and several dwellings at Warren, and a church and 22 houses at Bristol.
1780. Two regiments of Washington's troops mutinied; but were persuaded to return to their duty.
1798.Charles James Fox, had his name stricken by the king from the list of privy councillors, for giving as a toast at the meeting of the Whig club, "The sovereignty of the people."
1798.Asmus Jacob Carstens, a distinguished German artist, died. He was the son of a miller, and raised himself to eminence by his great talent and genius as a painter.
1798. A party of United Irishmen defeated near Dublin with great slaughter; many of those taken were executed.
1802.George Fordyce, died; an eminent Scottish physician and writer on medicine and chemistry.
1803.Bonaparteconstituted all Englishmen between 18 and 60 years of age, found in the French territory, prisoners of war, and ordered the capture of British vessels.
1805.William Paleydied; a learned English divine and writer on ethics. HisEvidences of Christianityis one of the ablest defences of the Christian religion that has ever appeared.
1812.Edmund Malone, an Irish attorney, died. He is celebrated as the editor of Shakspeare, and published several biographies.
1818.David Mitchell, a major-general in the war of the American revolution, died, aged 77. He was the friend of Logan, the Indian, and had fought the Indians in 27 battles.
1830. The French expedition against Algiers sailed from Toulon, consisting of 34,160 men, under the command of General Bourmont, and succeeded in reducing that barbarous kingdom to a French province.
1840. Singular phenomenon in lake Erie, at Toledo; the water rising to the height of four feet above its ordinary level in the space of a few hours, without any apparent cause. The water and the weather were calm and still, and no unusual commotion was observable, as the bay gradually rose nearly a foot higher than ever before known.
1843. One hundredth anniversary of the Am. Philosophical Society, founded by Franklin at Philadelphia. It is the oldest scientific association this side of the Atlantic.
604.Augustine(alias Austin), first archbishop of Canterbury, died. He was originally a monk, and was sent into Britain with 40 others to convert the English Saxons to Christianity.
735.Bede(the venerable), a learned English monk, died. He passed his life in severe study, and wrote an ecclesiastical history from Julius Cæsar to his own age.
946.Edmund I, king of the Anglo Saxons, killed by an outlaw named Liof, at the age of 23. He was distinguished for personal courage, as well as taste for elegance and splendor, whence he was calledthe munificent.
1416.Jeromeof Prague made the fearless declaration that he was a supporter of the doctrines of Wickliffe and Huss, for which he suffered martyrdom.
1512.Bayazid II, sultan of Turkey, died on the journey to Denitoka, his birth place, whither he was retiring, having resigned the government to his son, Selim, who had rebelled against him.
1536.Francisco Berni, a Tuscan poet, died. He is the principal writer of Italian jocose poetry, which has ever since retained the name of poesia Bernesca.
1568. Anestoddfodof the Welsh bards and minstrels held at Cayroes by commission of queen Elizabeth, when the great prize of the silver harp was adjudged to Simon ap Williams ap Sion.
1595.Philip Neri, founder of the oratorians, died. He was noted for his benevolence, and established ahospicefor the accommodation of pilgrims, which has become one of the finest in Rome.
1608. SirThomas Sackville, that great servant of Apollo and the state, interred with pomp at Westminster. "There never was a better treasurer," observes sir Richard Baker, "both for the king's profit and the good of the subject."
1623.Francis Anthony, an English chemist, died; who took advantage of his knowledge to impose upon the credulous and unwary, by selling his panacea of potable gold.
1637. Fort Mistic, garrisoned by a large body of Indians under their grand sachem Sassacus, taken by assault, and about 70 wigwams burnt.
1689. Battle at the pass of Killicrankie, remarkable for the defeat of king William's troops by the Highlanders under lord Dundee.
1685.John Marshamdied; a learned English chronologist.
1703.Samuel Pepys, a learned Englishman, died; celebrated for his collection of valuable documents, &c.
1746.Thomas Southern, an English dramatist, died.
1766.John Laurence Berti, a learned monk of Tuscany, died; author of about 20 quarto volumes of divinity.
1781. Congress resolved to establish the bank of North America, being the first regularly established bank in the country.
1782.William Emerson, an eminent English mathematician, died. His knowledge was very extensive, and his works accurate.
1784. Musical festival in Westminster abbey, in commemoration of the birthday of Handel. This was the greatest concert ever known; the number of performers was 525; 275 vocal, 250 instrumental. The sum produced was over $12,000.
1794. The French convention decreed that no quarters be given to British and Hanoverian soldiers. But the French troops refused to execute the decree.
1795. The Ottoman Porte acknowledged the French republic.
1798. Battle of Tarah and defeat of the United Irishmen.
1799.James Burnett, lord Monboddo, died. He was one of the lords of session in Scotland, and a philosophical writer of considerable learning, but of peculiar notions.
1809.Francis Joseph Haydn, the celebrated musical composer, died. His works are numerous and highly valued.
1811.James Pulteney, a wealthy English baron, died; whose income was $250,000 per annum.
1813. Cannonade between forts George and Niagara, and bombardment from all the batteries.
1814.Joseph Ignace Guillotin, a French physician, who revived the use of the instrument known as the maiden, died at Paris, aged 76.
1824.Capel Lofft, an English poet and miscellaneous writer, died in Italy. He was the patron of Bloomfield.
1831. Battle of Ostrolenka, between 55,000 Russians and 20,000 Poles, in which the latter were defeated.
1836.William Young Ottley, keeper of the prints in the British museum, died. He was for half a century actively devoted to his favorite pursuit of the fine arts, and is honorably known as an artist, a collector, and an author.
1838.William Butlerdied at Philadelphia, aged 108.
1840.William Sidney Smith, admiral of the red, died at Paris, aged 76. He was one of the most celebrated naval officers of the last age, and distinguished himself on various occasions by his talents and courage.
1844.Jacques Lafitte, the French banker, died.
1848. By a fire which occurred in the omnibus establishment of Kip & Brown, New York, 130 horses were burnt.
1852.Samuel Nott, for a long time regarded as the patriarch of the clergy of New England, died in Franklin, Conn., aged 98. He graduated at Yale college in 1780, and two years after settled at Franklin, where he spent the remainder of his protracted life. He was also engaged in the business of instruction, and was a maker of public men. He was injured by a burn, and died of the effects of the accident.
1853. The yellow fever made its appearance at New Orleans; the number of victims during the season was 8,186, the greater part of whom died in August and September.
1854.Angus Patterson, for a long time president of the senate of South Carolina, died at Barnwell, in that state.
1854. A great crowd in Boston, excited by inflammatory speeches, attacked the court house and attempted to rescue the negro, Anthony Burns, under arrest as a fugitive from servitude. A special assistant of the United States marshal was killed, but the object of the riot was not effected.
1855. An imperial ukase ordered that all the serfs in certain of the Russian states, between the ages of 30 and 35, should be enrolled.
346B. C.Philipof Macedon took possession of Phocis upon the 27th Scirophorion, and the towers were soon after dismantled, which terminated the ten years' war.
1199.Hubert, archbishop of Canterbury, made lord chancellor in consideration of his services in crowning king John.
1257.Richard, brother to Henry III, crowned at Aix la Chapelle, king of the Romans.
1520.Cortez, with 250 men, without horses, or any other arms than pikes, swords, shields and daggers, attacked the well appointed expedition under Narvaez, sent against him by the governor of Cuba, consisting of about 1400 men, which was defeated and gained over to his party. Thus the almost dispirited adventurer suddenly found himself again at the head of a more numerous army than ever, consisting of nearly 2000 Spanish troops, about a hundred horses and 18 vessels, and a great sufficiency of ammunition.
1538.Anthony Fitzherbert, an able English judge, died; author of several works on the law.
1541.Margaret, countess of Salisbury, beheaded in the tower, at the age of 70. She was the mother of the celebrated cardinal Pole, and the last of the royal line of Plantagenet.
1564.John Calvin, the great reformer, died. He was a man of eminent talents, solid judgment and extensive learning. His great rigor, however, procured him many enemies; indeed it ill became a reformer to defend, as he did, the burning of heretics.
1600. Matins of Moscow, so called from the time of the day when prince Demetrius and all his Polish adherents were massacred at 6 in the morning.
1602. The colony accompanying Gosnold fixed upon a place of settlement, on the western part of Elizabeth island in Narraganset bay. On a rocky islet in the centre of a fresh water pond two miles in circuit they commenced erecting a fort and store house. (SeeJune 18.)
1610.Francis Ravaillac, the fanatic who assassinatedHenri Quatre, (seeMay 14,) was executed by being drawn and quartered by four horses.
1647.Peter Stuyvesant, a man of learning and a soldier, the last Dutch governor of New York, arrived at New Amsterdam, and superseded Kieft.
1648.Vincent Voiture, an elegant French writer, died. He wrote verses with elegance in French, Spanish and Italian, and was a polisher of his native language in a barbarous age.
1679. English act of habeas corpus passed; the act suspending it was repealed, probably forever, 1818.
1681. "The sweet singers" of the city of Edinburgh renounced the printed Bible at the Canon gate tolbooth, and all unchaste thoughts, words and actions, and burned all story books, ballads, romances, &c.
1694. The French under marshal de Noailles defeated the Spaniards near the river Ter, and took Gerona.
1702.Dominic Bouhours, a French Jesuit, died; celebrated as a learned writer and critic.
1703. St. Petersburg founded by Peter the great. Its present population is about one-third that of London.
1721. TheWeekly Journal or Saturday's Postof this date adjudged to contain libelous matter against the government of England.
1723.George Iassented to the bill for the banishment of bishop Atterbury, whose great virtues are now remembered.
1725.Charles de la Rue, a French Jesuit, died; distinguished as an orator and poet and a professor ofbelles-lettres.
1728.Charles Leopold, duke of Mecklenburgh, deposed by the emperor of Germany.
1775. Battle at Noddle's island, near Boston; the British defeated by the Americans under Putnam and Warren, who had but 3 men wounded. British loss 200, together with an armed schooner and some stores.
1776.Arnoldwith about 900 Americans captured the British post at the Cedars without any resistance, and retook 500 American prisoners.
1777.Button Gwinnett, one of the signers, died of a wound received in a duel.
1779.Thos. Nugent, a distinguished lexicographer, died. His French and English dictionary has much merit.
1781. LordCornwallis, with a vastly superior force, compelled the marquis La Fayette to evacuate Richmond.
1794. Battle of Kaiserslautern, in which the Prussian general Mollendorf surprised the French camp, killed 1000, and took 2000 prisoners, and 20 cannon.
1798. Battle of Oulart Hill; the United Irishmen under father Murphy defeated the English, and massacred all but five. Same day, a large body of Irishmen defeated at Kilthomas hill, 150 killed, and 100 cabins and 2 chapels burnt.
1799. Addison's library sold by auction in London on this and the three following days, 70 years after his death, when it brought about $2,000.
1811.Richard Penn, one of the proprietors, and governor of Pennsylvania before the revolution, died in England.
1811.Henry Dundas, lord Melville, a distinguished British statesman, died.
1813. The American army landed in Canada under cover of the fire from Chauncey's fleet, and carried fort George by assault. The vanguard landed first, consisting of Forsyth's riflemen, and the Albany and Baltimore volunteers, under Col. Scott.
1817. A Tunisian corsair of 12 guns, with two prizes, under Oz Maney, were captured near Dover, England, by two British revenue cutters.
1832. St. Jean d'Acre in Palestine taken from the Turks by the pasha of Egypt.
1840. Great freshet in the Savannah river; the city of Augusta and town of Hamburgh entirely submerged; the water rising 35 feet above low water mark. The destruction of property was very great.
1840. BaronPaganini, the most celebrated violinist the world ever produced, died at Nice, in Italy, aged 57, leaving a large fortune. (SeeJune 27, 1819.)
1848. The princessSophia, 12th child of George III of England, died, aged 71; an amiable and benevolent lady.
1850. The temple of Nauvoo, erected by the Mormons, finished in 1845, partially burnt in October 1848, having but its four walls left—all its timber works having been consumed by the flames—was destroyed by a hurricane.
812. St.William, of Aquitaine, died. He distinguished himself by his valor against the Saracens, under Charlemagne.
1089.Lanfranc, archbishop of Canterbury, died. He was an Italian, and has the character of a great statesman, as well as a learned prelate.
1220. PopeHonoriusissued a decree that no person in England should keep in his hands more than two of the royal castles; intended to check the encroaching barons.
1357.Alphonso IV, of Portugal, died. He was an able prince, benevolent, and warred with the Moors.
1500.De Cabral'sfleet encountered a violent storm; 4 of his vessels ran foul of each other and sunk. Bartholomew Diaz, the Portuguese navigator, who first doubled the cape of Good Hope, was lost here.
1576. The first newspaper printed in England was theLiverpool Timesof this date; it is said to be published at the present day.
1583. The printing of theVandalie Biblecommenced at Wittemberg, by Samuel Seelfish, at the expense of the state of Carniola, which paid 8,000 florins for 1,500 copies.
1661. The marquis ofArgylebeheaded at Edinburgh and his head set upon the Tolbooth.
1672. Battle of Southwold bay, in which the Dutch admiral De Ruyter with 91 ships of the line and 44 frigates and fireships, engaged the combined fleets of France and England, consisting of 130 sail, under the command of the duke of York, afterwards James II, and the admiral count d'Estrees. The conflict was terrible. The allies had a trifling advantage, and the Dutch retired to the coast of Holland.
1672.Edward Montague, earl of Sandwich, drowned in the confusion of the battle of Southwold bay. He was distinguished as a statesman, general, admiral, and writer.
1672. War declared in Boston against the Dutch; the first declaration of war in the colonies.
1673. Action between the English and French fleets, under prince Rupert, and the Dutch under De Ruyter, at Schonvelt; both sides claimed the victory.
1701.Anne Hilarion de Costentin de Tourville, a French admiral, died. He distinguished himself against the Algerines and the Spaniards, but the battle of La Hogue was fatal to his glory.
1708. Com.Wagerattacked and destroyed the Spanish fleet near Carthagena.
1736. MadamoiselleSalle, a famousdanseuseat Paris, who piqued herself upon her reputation, instituted an order there, of which she was president, by the name of theIndifferents. Both sexes were indiscriminately admitted, after a nice scrutiny into their qualifications. They had rites, which no one was to disclose. The badge of the order was a ribbon, striped black, white and yellow, and the device something like an icicle. They took an oath to fight against love, and if any of the members were particular in their regards, they were excluded the order with ignominy.
1745.Jonathan Richardsondied; a celebrated English painter of heads, and an author.
1754. Battle at fort Duquesne; the French and Indians defeated by the Americans under Washington.
1781. American frigate Alliance, 32 guns, Capt. Barry, captured British sloops of war Atalanta, 16 guns, and Trespasser, 14 guns.
1793.Anthony Frederick Busching, a distinguished Prussian geographer, died.
1794. LordHowe'sfirst action with the French fleet under Joyeuse. British ship Russell captured the Revolutionaire, 110 guns.
1795.William, prince of Orange, issued a manifesto against the French and Batavian republics, protesting against their right to abolish the stadtholdership.
1797. Toulon, which had been seized by the French royalists, surrendered to the conventional troops.
1798.James Dunbar, professor of philosophy at Aberdeen, died; author of an essay on the history of mankind in the rude and uncultivated ages.
1798. FatherMurphy, at the head of the United Irishmen, took Enniscorthy, killed 90 of the king's troops, and set the town on fire.
1803. British ship Victory captured the French frigate Ambuscade, formerly belonging to the British.
1803.Richard Hole, an English poet and divine, died. He published Ossian in a poetic dress and other works.
1808. The bones of the American prisoners who had perished on board the Jersey and other British prison ships at New York during the revolutionary war, solemnly inhumed in a vault erected at the Wallabout.
1808.Richard Hurd, bishop of Worcester, died, aged 89. He was a learned man, author of several literary productions, and was offered the primacy, which he declined.
1810. The crown prince of Sweden killed by a fall from his horse. A circumstance which led the way for the elevation of Bernadotte.
1818. First steam boat on lake Erie (Walk in the Water), launched at Black Rock.
1839.Michael Buff, a soldier of the revolution, died in Oglethorpe co., Ga. He was under Gen. Forbes, 1758, and fought at the battles of Brandywine and Germantown.
1840.Thomas Harvey, a distinguished officer in the British navy, died at Bermuda, aged 65.
1841. Capitulation of the city of Canton, which had forfeited previous stipulations with the British and resumed hostilities. The Chinese agreed to pay six millions of dollars in one week as a ransom for the city, and that their troops should be withdrawn 60 miles into the interior, and that all losses sustained by the partial destruction of the factories, should be paid. The sum was paid as stipulated.
1843.Noah Webster, the American lexicographer, died, aged 85.
1850.John N. Maffit, the well known and eccentric methodist preacher, died at Mobile.
1852.Thomas Francis Meagher, a political exile from Ireland, and convict at Van Dieman's land, arrived at New York.
1853. The French legislature passed an act restoring capital punishment for attempts on the life of the emperor, or to subvert the imperial government.
1854. A riot occurred at the park in New York, between a party of Catholics and the friends of a street preacher; several persons were badly injured.
71B. C.The range of embankments thrown up by Titus against the wall of Jerusalem, the work of 17 days, was undermined and consumed, or buried in a pit of fire, with all the Roman engines. This was effected by the skill and conduct of John, the high priest.
1379.Henry II, of Castile, died. He ascended the throne by the murder of Peter the cruel, which he perpetrated with his own hand. He was one of the bravest princes of his time, and won the good will of his subjects.
1405. Battle of Shipton moor; princeHenry dispersed the 8,000 insurgents under Scroop, by seizing the persons of their leaders.
1453. Constantinople taken by the Turks under Mohammed II, which terminated the Greek empire, after an existence of ten centuries. Constantine XIII (Paleologus), was killed, and the beautiful Irene, whose fate is dramatized by Johnson, was one of the captives.
1545.David Beaton, archbishop of St. Andrews, assassinated. He was a great persecutor of heretics, and united with great talents equally great vices.
1588. The Spanish armada, intended for the annihilation of England, sailed from the Tagus, under the duke of Medina Sidonia. The armament consisted of 92 galleons, or large ships of the line, 4 galliases, 30 frigates, 30 transports for horse, and 4 galleys; on board whereof were 8,350 marines, 2,080 galley-slaves, and 19,290 land-forces. The fleet was dispersed by a storm, and compelled to rendezvous at Corunna for repairs.
1593.John Penry, an English controversial writer, executed for heresy against the episcopacy.
1660.Charles IImade his entry into London, after a long series of misfortunes and exile, and re-established the royalty, which had been suspended about 12 years.
1672. The new conduit erected in London by sir Thomas Vyner, ran with wine for a few hours in honor of the birthday and restoration of Charles II.
1691.Cornelius Trompdied; a Dutch admiral in the service of the republic, succeeded de Ruyter, 1670, as admiral of the fleets of the United Provinces.
1700.Michael Anthony Baudrand, a French ecclesiastic, died; author of aGeographical Dictionary, 2 vols. folio.
1715. Great riot in London; the whigs complaining that unless they shouted high church and the duke of Ormond, they were insulted by the tories.
1758. Action between the French ship Raisonable, 64 guns, prince di Mombazon, and British ship Dennis, 70 guns. The Frenchman was captured with the loss of 61 killed, 100 wounded.
1762. The duke of Newcastle on resigning his premiership in the British ministry being offered a pension declined, saying, "if he could nolongerserve he could notburdenhis country."
1780. Battle of Waxhaws, S. C., col. Tarleton, with 700 cavalry and infantry, came up with 300 continentals under col. Buford, who surrendered after a short action. A few continuing to fire after the main body had surrendered, an indiscriminate slaughter ensued. Tarleton states that 113 Americans were killed, 153 too badly wounded to proceed, and 53 taken prisoners.
1780. Great meeting of the protestant association was held in Coachmakers' hall, London, lord George Gordon presiding, saying that he would not present the petition unless signed by 20,000.
1785.Andrew Coltee Ducarel, a French antiquary, died. His researches were confined to England.
1790.Israel Putnam, a revolutionary officer, died. He was one of the most daring, brave and intrepid officers of the army, and his adventures almost border on romance.
1790. Rhode Island adopted the constitution of the United States, adding the 13th pillar to the federal edifice, by a majority of only 2—34 ayes, 32 noes; recommending amendments.
1793. The general assembly of Corsica, consisting of 1,009 delegates, unanimously expelled the Bonaparte family.
1796. The floor of the methodist meeting house at Leeds, England, gave way during service, and 18 persons were killed, and about 80 dreadfully wounded.
1811. Battle of Taragonna, in Spain, which was assaulted by the French under Suchet. The garrison consisted of 2,500 men, of whom only 903 prisoners were taken; the remainder were put to the sword.
1813. Attack on Sacketts Harbor, by the British under Yoe and Provost: they were repulsed with the loss of 260; American loss 156.
1814. British repulsed by maj. Finney of the Accomac militia, at Pongoteague creek.
1814.Josephine, ex-empress of France, died.
1820.Christian William von Dohm, a Prussian statesman and scholar, died.
1823.John Phillips, an eminent lawyer in Boston, died, aged 53.
1829.Humphrey Davy, the noted English chemist, died. He made several important discoveries in the science, and invented the miner's safety lamp.
1832.George Burder, an English divine, died, aged 80; author of theVillage Sermons, now so popular.
1837.John Afzelius, an eminent Swedish chemist, died at Upsal, aged 84.
1839.David Kirkpatrick, an officer of the revolution, died. He entered the army at the commencement of the war, was in the battles of Monmouth, Germantown, Brandywine, Trenton, Cowpens, &c., and was the last surviving officer of the Delaware line.
1840.William Legget, a well known political writer, died at Rochelle, near New York, when preparing for a diplomatic mission to Guatemala.
1848.Thomas Dick Lander, a distinguished Scottish literary writer, died.
1849.Sarah J. Howe, an American poetess and literary writer, died at Louisville.
1855.Jesse Chickering, an American statistician, died at Roxbury, Mass., aged 57. He studied theology, and afterwards medicine, but after a practice of ten years devoted himself to literature, and produced works on population and immigration.
1856. The president transmitted to congress the announcement that he had ceased to hold diplomatic intercourse with the British minister, Mr. Crampton, on account of his attempting to make enlistments for the British service among the citizens of the United States.
542.Arthur, a British prince, died. He was a victorious warrior against the surrounding nations, and is celebrated as the founder of the knights of the round table at Winchester.
1216.Louisof France, at the invitation of the rebel English barons, crossed the channel with 680 sail, and landed at Sandwich.
1252. The epoch of the Alphonsine tables, constructed by Hazan, a Jew, by order of Alphonso the wise, commencing with the day of his accession to the throne of Leon and Castile.
1416.Jerome of Prague, burnt for the heresy of protestantism, at Constance, and suffered with great fortitude.
1431.Joan of Arc, the Maid of Orleans, burnt at Rouen, for sorcery and intercourse with infernal spirits, by the English. Chapelaine celebrated her in 12 times 1200 verses; Southey has made her the subject of an epic, and Schiller of a tragedy.
1484.Charles VIII(the affable), inaugurated at Rheims, in his 15th year. He was met at the gates by a young damsel, habited as Flora, who delivered him the keys of the city.
1498.Columbussailed from the port of St. Lucar de Barrameda, with a squadron of six vessels, on his third voyage of discovery, with additional powers. The Indians were to wear a mark of brass or lead coin about their necks, which were to beexchangedfor others on the payment of their tribute money.
1521. The Spaniards under Cortez, invested Mexico with 917 Spaniards and 75,000 Indians, which were soon increased to 200,000. He had 86 horses, 3 large iron cannons, and 15 smaller of copper, 1000 Castilian pounds of gun powder and a large quantity of balls and arrows, the strength of his little army having doubled by the supplies from Spain and the Antilles. The Spanish troops, in proceeding to their posts, in commencing the siege, had several engagements with the Mexicans. In attempting to break the aqueduct of Chapoltepec to cut off the water from the city, a powerful resistance was made. At one assault, so thick was the shower of arrows, darts and stones, which were shot at them, that 8 Spaniards were killed, and more than fifty wounded, and they were with difficulty able to retreat to Tlacopan, where they encamped.
1539.Ferdinand de Soto, landed on the West coast of Florida, in search of gold. He is supposed to have wandered over many of the southern states; but being disappointed in his great object, he returned without effecting a settlement.
1574.Charles IX, of France, died, aged 25. It was during his reign that the fatal massacre of St. Bartholomews took place, which renders his name odious.
1577.Martin Frobisher, the English navigator, sailed on his second voyage for the discovery of a north-west passage to India. He coasted Greenland and Labrador, and returned with 200 tons of glittering stones and sand, which he had mistaken for gold ore.
1640.Peter Paul Rubens, the celebrated Flemish painter, died. He was also a statesman, and a man of learning.
1654.Christinaof Sweden abdicated the throne, on which occasion she caused a medal to be struck, with the motto, "Parnassus is worth more than a throne."
1658. Prince of Conde, at the head of 2000 cavalry, threw himself into Cambray, then besieged by marshal Turenne.
1663.Denis de Sallo, the inventor of literary journals, published the first number of the FrenchJournal des Savans.
1676. Hatfield, Mass., burnt by the Indians. The town was attacked by about 600 of the enemy, while the men were all out in the fields at work except one who was very old. They burnt 12 houses and barns without the fortification, and drove away the cattle and sheep. The news of this affair having reached the neighboring town of Hadley, 25 resolute young men hastened to the scene of desolation, and charged the savages with such undaunted courage, that five or six of them fell at the first shot; and making their way through the thickest of the Indians, they threw themselves into the garrison, with the loss of five of their number, who fell as they were entering the town. The enemy, amazed at the resolution of this little band, and having lost 25 of their number, fled from the place immediately, with their booty.
1688. PereGerbillon, one of the French Jesuit Missionaries who accompanied Du Halde to China, set out on his first journey into Tartary. His travels are published at length in the great work of Du Halde. (SeeAp. 1, 96;May 24, 98;Oct. 13, 98.)
1718.Bernard Nieuwentyd, a Dutch writer on mathematics, died.
1744.Alexander Popedied: the celebrated English poet and epistolary writer.
1756.Elizabeth Elstob, an English literary lady, died. She was skilled in eight languages, and published a Saxon grammar.
1764.Simon Sack, died at Trionia, aged 141.
1770. Fire works in honor of the marriage of Louis XVI, of France, when about 1100 persons were crushed to death in the crowd.
1775. Americans burnt the mansion house on Noddles island, and carried off the cattle.
1778.Marie Francis Arouet de Voltaire, the celebrated French philosopher, died. He was an extraordinary man, of whom it has been said, he was a free thinker in London, a Cartesian in Versailles, a Christian in Nancy, and an infidel in Berlin. In society, he was alternately an Aristippus and a Diogenes. For versatility of talent, his equal has, perhaps never appeared.
1796. Battle of Borghetto; Bonaparte defeated the Austrians.
1799. The editor, printer and publisher of theLondon Courier, were fined and imprisoned for saying that the emperor of Russia was a tyrant among his own subjects and ridiculous to the rest of Europe.
1801.John Miller, who wrote a historical view of the English government, died at Glasgow.
1804.Jeffersonissued a proclamation erecting the district of Mobile.
1806. Bonaparte issued a decree calling an assembly of Jewish deputies, for the purpose of forming a Sanhedrim.
1813. American privateer Yankee, 16 guns, captured British brig Thames, 14 guns; cargo sold for $180,000.
1814. Treaty of Paris, between Louis XVIII, and the allied sovereigns. The latter left Paris the same day, on a visit to England.
1826.John Beatty, a general officer in the war of the American revolution, died.
1832.James Mackintosh, an English statesman, died; known by hisHistory of England. He was employed principally in the affairs of India, during which he found time for literary pursuits.
1833.John Malcolm, a general in the India service, died. He distinguished himself as a soldier, statesman and scholar. He contributed much information respecting the history and present condition of Persia.
1837.Christopher Browne, a soldier of the revolution, died at Philadelphia, aged 107.
1844. The Irish agitatorDaniel O'Connel, sentenced to fine and imprisonment.
1848. Battle of Goito, Italy; the Austrians defeated by the king of Sardinia.
1848. Ratifications of the treaty between the United States and Mexico exchanged with the latter government at Quaretaro.
1848. GeneralHerreraelected president of Mexico by 11 states against 5.
1854. Three British steamers destroyed the ships, dockyards and stores at Brahestadt, in the north of the gulf of Bothnia.
1854. The Turks made a sortie from Silistria, and killed 3000 Russians in the trenches.
1854.Peregrine Maitland, a British officer, died, aged 76. He served at Walcheren, in the Peninsula at Corunna, and at Waterloo. For his services on the Nive as commander of the first brigade of guards, he received a medal. He had been lieutenant-governor of Upper Canada and Nova Scotia, and commander-in-chief of the Madras army.
1856. The ship Pallas, sailing from Cork to Quebec, struck the breakers off St. Paul's island and bilged; of 120 passengers 72 were drowned.
1434.Ladislaus IV, king of Poland, died, aged 80; universally respected for all those virtues which should grace a throne.
1521. The siege of Mexico having been begun by Cortez, Sandoval with a division of the Spaniards and more than 35,000 allies marched to the assault of the city of Iztapalapan, situated about 8 miles from Mexico, on the eastern border of the lake. Great havoc was made upon the people and the city, devastated by fire. The inhabitants attempting to escape by water, were met by Cortez, who rushed among their frail boats with his brigantines, and destroyed immense numbers of them.
1589.Walter Mildmay, an English statesman, died; founder of Emanuel college.
1658. Kingston, Ulster county, N. Y., founded.
1672. Union between the colonies of Massachusetts, Connecticut and Plymouth.
1680.Christopher Davenport, died; a learned Englishman, who became a Franciscan, and published several theological works.
1707.Simon Patrick, an English bishop, died, aged 80. He rose from the lowest condition by his own worth.
1723.William Baxter, an English critic and grammarian, died, aged 73. Fewlitterateurshave commenced their career more unpromisingly; for at the age of 18 he could neither read a word, nor could he speak any thing but Welch; yet he became a noted linguist, translated several Latin authors, and compiled aDictionary of British Antiquities.
1731.Philip Wharton, died; an English nobleman, remarkable for his eccentricities.
1740.Frederick William, king of Prussia, died. He was a wise and politic monarch, who sought the prosperity of his subjects and the kingdom.
1745. ShahNadir, defeated the Turks at Erzeroum.
1775. The Americans landed on Pettick's island, near Boston, and carried off 500 sheep and 30 cattle.
1778. Col.Ethan Allenarrived from England, and was received with discharges of cannon.
1779. Stoney Point evacuated by the Americans, and taken possession of by Gen. Clinton.
1791. Punishment by the wheel abolished in France.
1793. An armed force beset the palace of the Tuilleries, and demanded the arrest of the Brissotine party.
1796.Bonapartedissolved the great council and took possession of Venice.
1830.Frederick A. Wilson, inventor of gaslight, died at Paris.
1832.Maximilian Lamarque, died at Paris; a distinguished French officer, and defender of liberal principles.
1833.John Malcolm, a distinguished philanthropist and faithful servant of the English East India Company, died. A tasteful obelisk 100 feet high is raised to his memory in his native Eskdale, Scotland.
1835.William Smith, an English statesman, died. He was 46 years a member of the British parliament.
1839. Great Western steamship arrived in New York from Bristol, in 13 days 8 hours, the shortest voyage from Europe to America theretofore made.
1847.Thomas Chalmers, the eminent Scottish divine, whose powers of oratory were the admiration of the world, died at Edinburgh, aged 67.
1853.Thomas M. Petit, director of the United States mint, died at Philadelphia.
1853. The second American arctic expedition left New York in search of Sir John Franklin, and for scientific purposes.
1854. The British transport Europa, having troops on board, was totally destroyed by fire opposite Brest, and 21 lives lost.
1854. Three wagon loads of powder, 11,250 pounds, exploded in the street at Wilmington, Delaware, killing several persons, and badly injuring 75 houses in the vicinity.
1855.Charlotte Nicholls, died; an English authoress under thenom de plumeof Currer Bell. Her fame was established by the novel ofJane Eyre.
1855. The propeller Arctic and barque Release, left Brooklyn navy yard under command of Lieut. Hartstein, in search of Dr. Kane and his companions in the Arctic sea.
1856.John M. Niles, a Connecticut statesman, died, aged 68. He commenced the practice of the law in Hartford, in 1816, and was concerned in establishing theHartford Times, which he principally edited. He held various offices with distinction; among others that of post master general under Mr. Van Buren.