1302. The marriage of ROMEO MONTOCCHIO with JULIET CAPELLETTO was
solemnized at the church of the Minorites, at Citadella. These were
Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet.
1444. The university of Paris issued a circular addressed to all the
French clergy, expressing the opinion of the church, that the _feast of
fools_, about the calends of January, was a well imagined institution,
connected with Christianity, and that those who attempted to suppress it
should be curst and excommunicate.
1513. JOHN MEDICI elected pope and assumed the title of Leo X. From his
grave appearance it was often said he seemed never to have been a child.
1544. Birthday of TORQUATO TASSO, styled the prince of Italian poets.
1669. The memorable eruption of Mount Etna began at sunset.
1722. JOHN TOLAND, a very famous English political, polemical and
miscellaneous writer and antiquary, died at Putney.
1732. PETER CHIRAC, a French author and physician to the king, died.
1732. KOULI KHAN, usurped the Persian throne.
1738. It was ascertained that 12,000 persons were convicted in London in
a few months for selling gin without a license, and 3,000 paid a fine of
£10 rather than be committed to the house of correction.
1744. Action off Toulon between part of the British fleet under Matthews
and Lestock, and the combined French and Spanish fleets.
1797. Two discharged servants informed the police that Ladies
Buckinghamshire, Luttrel and Stuart played faro, in consequence of which
their ladyships were fined.
1800. The Royal institution of London for the promotion of the fine arts
held their first sitting.
1808. Franklin, Chatauque, Cattaraugus and Niagara counties in the state
of New York, erected.
1809. HANNAH COWLEY died, aged 66. She was born at Tiverton, England,
and distinguished as a poetress, and a dramatic writer.
1811. Badajos in Spain surrendered to the French under Soult. About
9,000 prisoners were taken, 170 cannon, 80,000 quintals of gunpowder, a
large quantity of infantry cartridges, and two complete bridge
equipages.
1812. PHILIP JAMES DE LOUHTERBOURG, a distinguished landscape painter,
died at London. He was born at Strasburgh, 1740, and studied under
Casanova. He gained considerable reputation by his paintings at Paris,
after which he went over to England. Here he got up under the name of
_Eidophusikon_, a novel and highly ingenious exhibition, displaying the
changes of the elements and their phenomena, in a calm, a moonlight, a
sunset and a storm at sea.
1813. Action off Surinam river between the United States privateer
schooner Gen. Armstrong, 18 guns, and a British 24 gun frigate. The
privateer sustained the attack 45 minutes within pistol shot, and
succeeded in escaping with the loss of 6 killed and 16 wounded.
1848. HENRY WHEATON, an American statesman, philanthropist and classic
writer, died at Roxbury, Mass.
1856. President RIVAS, of Nicaragua, declared war against Costa Rica.