3102. B. C. According to the tables of Trivalore, the great Hindostan
epoch, _Callyhougham_, began at sunrise this day; that is, A. M. 902,
and before the death of Adam!
1478. GEORGE, duke of Clarence, executed by drowning in a butt of
Malmsey wine. He was the brother of Edward IV, against whom he had been
induced to take up arms. He had the privilege of choosing the mode of
his death.
1519. CORTEZ sailed from cape St. Antonio where he had stopped to
complete his preparations. When all were brought together the vessels
were found to be 11 in number; one of them of 100 tons burden, and three
others from 70 to 80 tons; the remainder were caravels and open
brigantines. His forces now amounted to 110 mariners, 553 soldiers,
including 32 crossbowmen, and 13 arquebusiers, besides 200 Indians of
the island, and a few Indian women for menial offices. He was provided
with 10 heavy guns, 4 lighter pieces, called falconets, and a good
supply of ammunition. He had besides 16 horses.
1546. MARTIN LUTHER, the reformer, died at Wittemberg. He was born at
Eisleben in Saxony, 1483. His father was a miner, and Martin, to
support himself at school, sung songs at the doors of the citizens. Yet
this humble individual was destined to shake the papal throne to its
foundations. His translation of the Bible, completed in 1534, was a
labor of 13 years, amidst dangers and difficulties of every kind.
1639. THOMAS CAREW died; one of the wits of the court of Charles II. In
the midst of a life of affluence and gaiety he found time to cultivate
his taste for polite literature; and finally became a repentant devotee.
He has been coupled with Waller as an improver of English versification,
and was esteemed by Jonson and Davenant.
1645. RICHARD BAKER, an English historian, died. Having become security
for the debts of some of his wife's relatives, he was thereby reduced to
poverty, and thrown into the Fleet prison. During this imprisonment, and
as a means of subsistence, he wrote his _Chronicle of the Kings of
England_, and various other works, mostly devotional. He died in prison,
where he had spent the last twenty years of his life, at the age of 77.
1652. GREGORIO ALLEGRI, an eminent musical composer, died at Rome. His
compositions, the chief of which is the _Miserere_, are still performed
in the pontifical chapel.
1653. Naval action off Portland, England, between the British, under
Blake, Dean and Monk, and the Dutch under Van Tromp and De Ruyter. The
latter was defeated, with the loss of 2000 killed, 1500 prisoners, and
11 ships of war, besides a number of other vessels, principally
merchantmen.
1654. JOHN LEWIS GUEZ DE BALZAC, historiographer of France, died. He
acquired great celebrity by his publications.
1662. An unprecedented storm in severity passed over England, chiefly
felt at London.
1672. JOHN LABADIE died at Altona; a celebrated French enthusiast.
1694. Several ships of war, &c., lost in a storm east of Gibraltar. The
Sussex on board of which was Sir Francis Wheeler, the admiral, foundered
with the whole of her crew.
1695. WILLIAM PHIPPS died at London, aged 45. He was born at Pemaquid,
Maine; was apprenticed to a ship carpenter, and afterwards went to sea.
Hearing of a Spanish wreck near Bahama, he gave such an account of it in
England that he was fitted out in 1683 to search for it, but was
unsuccessful. The duke of Albemarle fitted him out a second time, and he
returned with a treasure of £300,000, of which his share was 16,000. He
was subsequently sent over as governor of Massachusetts, but his
administration was short and unpopular.
1702. THOMAS HYDE, an eminent English divine and orientalist, died. He
published a work on the religion of the ancient Persians, which threw
many new lights on the most curious and interesting subjects.
1709. Sir EDWARD SEYMOUR died. He had been a member of every parliament
since 1661.
1710. PHILIP VERHEYEN, a medical author, died at Louvain, in Belgium,
where he was professor of anatomy.
1712. LOUIS, duke of Burgundy, died, aged 30. He was educated under
Fenelon, and as heir to the throne and counsellor of state, France
expected to enjoy a long rest from her troubles, under this
administration. He died suddenly of a disease which had taken away his
wife and eldest son only a few days before.
1719. GEORGE HENRY GOERTZ, a Swedish statesman, beheaded. He joined
Charles XII on his return from Turkey, and was placed at the head of
affairs. The desperate state of Sweden gave full employment to his
extraordinary talents; but on the fall of the king he was sacrificed to
the hatred of the nobility and condemned without a trial.
1724. GEORGE WHEELER, an English traveler and antiquary died. He visited
Greece and Asia, for the purpose of copying inscriptions and to describe
antiquities, in company with Dr. Spon, an account of which was published
in 6 vols. folio. The work is highly valued for its authenticity and
antiquities.
1730. CHARLES BECKINGHAM, an English dramatic writer, died. His pieces
were received with much applause.
1750. GEORGE BERNARD BILFINGER, professor of philosophy at Petersburg,
and afterwards at Tubingen, died at Stutgard. He was eminent as an
author.
1758. JOSEPH ISAAC BERRUYER, a French Jesuit, died; author of some
theological works.
1772. JOHN HARTWIG ERNST, count Bernstorff, died at Hamburg. He settled
in Denmark, where he became prime minister, and in this office devoted
the whole energies of his powerful mind to the improvement of his
adopted country. He set the example of manumitting the peasantry, who
were in a state of bondage and gave the fourth part of his income to the
poor. He is represented as a model of intelligence, wisdom and
benevolence.
1777. Col. NIELSON of New Jersey, with a party of American militia,
defeated the British Major Stockton, killed 4 and took him and 59 of his
men prisoners.
1778. JOSEPH MARIE TERRAY, minister of state of France, died. He was a
man of great integrity and patriotism; and on retiring from office,
carried with him the gratitude of his country.
1791. Vermont admitted into the Union. (see March 4).
1793. Action between British ship Juno, Capt. Hood, and the French
privateer schooner, L'Entreprenant, Capt. Vaniere. The latter was taken,
together with a prize which she had captured. Vaniere shot himself.
1795. British squadron under Warren captured near the isle of Aix, 8
French vessels, and destroyed 10 brigs and a lugger, laden with
provisions and clothing for the French fleet and army.
1797. Trinidad, another of the West India isles, surrendered to the
English under Sir R. Abercromby.
1800. Action off Malta, between the British squadron under Nelson, and
Le Genereux, a French 74, and a frigate which resulted in the capture of
the two latter.
1800. LOUIS LE FROTTE, the Vendean chief, with 7 of his officers, shot
by order of the French convention. They all refused to have their eyes
covered.
1808. Austrian declaration of non-intercourse with England.
1811. French port of Tametivi, in Madagascar, surrendered to a British
force.
1812. The prince regent of England, afterwards George IV, invested with
full legal powers.
1814. Battle of Montereau, in France; Chateau, who commanded the French,
was repulsed and mortally wounded; but Gen. Gerard, the second in
command, sustained the combat until 2 P. M., when being reinforced by
Bonaparte, the Russians were in turn discomfited.
1815. The king of Candy, in Ceylon, surrendered to the British under
Gen. Brownrigg.
1815. Treaty of peace between the United States and Great Britain
ratified by President Madison.
1834. WILLIAM WIRT died, aged 62. He early became acquainted with
Jefferson, Madison and Monroe, and filled several important offices
under them with distinguished reputation. As a public and professional
man, he was ranked among the first of his time.
1843. The Ameers of the punjaf in India wholly defeated by the British
troops under Sir Charles Napier.
1851. VICTOR FALCK, a distinguished French ornithologist, died at
Stockholm.
1852. CHRISTOPHER ANDERSON died, aged 73; known by his _Annals of the
English Bible_.
1853. An attempt made to assassinate the emperor of Austria by a
Hungarian named Lebenyi, who was executed.
1856. HEINRICH HEINE, the celebrated German poet, died at Paris.