1569. Burial of ROGER ASCHAM, at St. Sepulchre's, London. He was a man
of learning, and author of numerous works, among others, _The
Schoolmaster_.
1649. Some barrels of gunpowder exploded and destroyed 60 houses in
Tower street, London. A child in its cradle was found alive and unhurt
on the roof of Barking church.
1689. Col. HENRY SLOUGHTER appointed governor of New York.
1698. The palace, except the banqueting house, of White-hall palace, in
England, destroyed by fire.
1707. LOUIS WILLIAM I, marquis of Baden-Baden, died. He was born at
Paris 1655, where his mother wished to educate him; but his father and
grandfather stole him away at the age of three months, that he might
pass his childhood among the people whom he was destined to govern. He
served his first campaign under Montellucco against Turenne. He was in
Vienna when that city was besieged by the Turks, and subsequently
commanded against the Turks in the Danube. He was one of the greatest
generals of his time; made 26 campaigns, commanded at 25 sieges, fought
at 13 battles, yet was never really defeated.
1753. The first number of _The World_ appeared, conducted by Coleman,
Bonnell Thornton, Chesterfield, and others.
1762. England declared war against Spain.
1773. The town meeting of Petersham, Mass., adopted a kind of manifesto
of grievances, drafted by Josiah Quincy and signed by Sylvanus How.
1775. A circular letter from the British secretary of state was
addressed to the governor of the several colonies, forbidding the
election of delegates to the congress proposed to be held in May. The
order was disregarded, and the country has not been without its annual
sessions of congress since 1774.
1778. The British, under Col. Campbell, landed at the mouth of Savannah
river, Ga., and defeated the Americans under Gen. Robert Howe. They took
the city of Savannah, together with 38 officers, 415 privates, 48
cannons, 23 mortars, the fort, ammunition and stores, the shipping in
the river, and a large quantity of provisions.
1781. British ship Courageux, Capt. Phipps, captured in one hour the
French frigate Minerva 32 guns. Minerva had 50 killed, 23 wounded;
Courageux 10 killed, 7 wounded.
1784. Treaty signed between the United States and Great Britain; by
which the latter relinquished her right to the sovereignty of the
revolted colonies.
1789. THOMAS NELSON, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, died.
He was born at York, Va., 1738. His father was an opulent merchant and
sent him to England for an education. He returned 1761, and in 1774 had
become a statesman of some note. Three years afterwards he was appointed
brigadier general and commander in chief of the Virginia forces, and in
1781 succeeded Jefferson as governor of the state. His services elicited
the public thanks of Washington.
1793. The Alien bill passed in the British parliament. During the debate
on this measure the great Burke threw upon the floor a Sheffield dagger
to enforce his oratory.
1795. The French crossed the Waal near Bommel, and took possession of
Tiel. They also captured Rosas and 540 of the garrison.
1796. Message from Gen. Washington to congress, accompanied by the
French flag presented by the committee of public safety, which was
deposited among the archives.
1804. CHARLOTTE LENOX, the popular author of the _Female Quixotte_, &c.,
died.
1814. JOHN GEORGE JACOBI, a German poet, died. He was the son of a
wealthy merchant; studied theology; became professor of theology and
eloquence at Halle, where he published a periodical for the ladies
called the _Iris_. He was afterwards connected with several periodicals.
His works are published in 7 vols.
1825. FERDINAND IV of Naples died. The life of this prince is remarkable
for the uncommon length of his reign, and its many vicissitudes,
embracing a period of 65 years, and being closely connected with all the
great events of Europe during the last half century. He was born 1751,
and came to the throne at the age of eight. The first thirty years of
his reign were attended with peace and happiness; but in 1798 the
country was invaded by Bonaparte, before whom Ferdinand fled to Sicily:
and afterwards in 1820 the Carbonari effected a revolution which again
banished the royal family. The interposition of the Austrians, however,
restored the ancient order of things, which continued till the death of
the king, four years after.
1827. JAMES CHAMBERS, an eccentric poet, died in misery at a farm-house
in Stratbroke, England. From the age of 16 to 70 he wandered about the
country, gaining a precarious subsistence by selling his own effusions,
of which he had a number printed in a cheap form. His compositions were
mostly suggested to him by his muse, during the stillness of the night
while reposing in some friendly barn or hay-loft. When so inspired, he
would arise and commit the effusion to paper. He continued through life
in hopeless poverty, and was a lonely man and a wanderer, who had
neither act nor part in the common ways of the world.
1835. Thermometer 40 deg. below zero, at Lebanon, N. Y., the mercury
becoming solid. It was severely cold throughout the United States.
1843. STEVEN THOMPSON MASON, formerly governor of Michigan, died at New
York, aged 31.
1845. BENJAMIN RUSSELL, chiefly known as the conductor of the _Columbian
Centinel_, died at Boston.
1849. SAMUEL JENKINS, a negro died at Lancaster, aged 115. He drove his
master's provision wagon over the Alleganies in Braddock's expedition,
and was supposed to be the last survivor of that expedition.
1849. The town of Moultan in India, after a long siege was taken by the
British, but with great loss.
1852. ELIOT WALBURTON, an author of considerable note, perished in the
Amazon steamship, on his way from Southampton to the West Indies.
1853. Mr. INGERSOLL, the American envoy to England, was feted by the
chamber of commerce at Liverpool.
1854. Albion college, Michigan, destroyed by fire.
1856. JEAN PIERRE DAVID, a celebrated French sculptor, died at Paris,
aged 65.