1140. A remarkable eclipse of the sun in England, which caused total
darkness.
1491. The new epoch and sacred year of the Jews established,
corresponding with the first day of Abib, (Nisan) the day of Pharaoh's
overthrow.
1512. JUAN PONCE DE LEON landed in Florida, and claimed the honor of the
discovery; although Sebastian Cabot sailed along the coast in 1497. He
was led to undertake the expedition by the Indian tradition in Cuba,
that in the interior of the country was a spring which made those who
drank it young and perpetuated their youth. At a great loss of his men
in the swamps and marshes, he penetrated into the interior, but was
driven back by the Indians without discovering the miraculous fountain.
1556. THOMAS CRANMER, archbishop of Canterbury, burnt for heresy at
Oxford. He was born 1489, and educated for the ministry. His first
promotion arose from his remarking that the meditated divorce of Henry
VIII from his first wife, Catharine of Arragon, might be decided by
learned divines without an appeal to the pope. The king, on hearing of
it exclaimed "by G----d, the man has got the sow by the right ear!" He
was sent for to court, and immediately preferred. On the accession of
Mary, he was tried before commissioners, sent from Rome on charges of
blasphemy, perjury, incontinence and heresy, and sentenced to be
degraded and deprived of office, and finally burnt for the confessions
he was induced to make with the hope of pardon. He contributed far more
than any other individual to the establishment of the independence of
the English church, and was a great patron of learning and the
universities.
1604. PETER ERNEST, count de Mansfield, died at Luxembourg. He was an
able statesman in the service of the emperor of Germany. His conduct was
considered so meritorious that he was appointed governor of Brabant.
1639. THOMAS CAMPANELLI, an Italian philosopher of great eminence, died
at Paris. So great was his learning and eloquence, that his rivals and
enemies procured the interference of the inquisition on an accusation of
sorcery and magic. He was afterwards put to the rack and condemned to
perpetual imprisonment, but found means to escape to France, where he
was protected.
1644. PRINCE RUPERT defeated the parliament forces in England, and
relieved Newark.
1656. JAMES USHER, archbishop of Armagh, died. He enjoyed a reputation
seldom acquired, in every department of knowledge, and received pressing
invitations to France and Germany, at a time when his own country was in
a state of anarchy, and his property falling a prey to the fortunes of
war.
1663. CHARLOTTE TREMOUILLE, countess of Derby, died. She was the wife of
the earl of Derby who was treacherously beheaded during the civil war of
England, and imitated his heroic conduct by defying the attacks of the
parliament forces, and was the last person who submitted to them.
1673. The castle formerly standing at the entrance of Boston harbor,
accidentally destroyed by fire. It was constructed of timber, since
replaced by a new one of stone.
1676. A hissing, detonating meteor passed over Italy two hours after
sunset. Its apparent diameter was greater than that of the moon; its
real diameter about three quarters of a mile; and the velocity was
calculated at 160 miles a minute.
1684. NATHANIEL HIGHMORE, an eminent English anatomist, died. He is the
author of the first systematic treatise on the structure of the human
body, in the English language, and was indefatigable in the pursuit and
improvement of anatomical science.
1733. STANISLAUS, king of Poland, sent his abdication by express, to
Warsaw.
1766. RICHARD DAWES, an English scholar, died; celebrated as the author
of the _Miscellanea Critica_.
1772. JAMES NICHOLAS BELLIN, a learned and laborious geographical
engineer of Paris, died.
1776. The duke of Bridgewater's canal from Manchester to Liverpool
completed, a great achievement for the time.
1778. The American ministers, Franklin, Dean and Lee, were publicly
received at the French court.
1788. A fire occurred at New Orleans, by which seven-eighths of the city
was laid in ashes.
1797. JOHN PARKHURST, an English divine, died aged 69; well known as a
lexicographer.
1797. The French entered Goritz in Austria, where they found 1500 sick,
and a great quantity of provisions and stores.
1799. Battle of Asterach, between the French under Jourdan, and the
Austrians under the archduke, in which the latter were defeated.
Austrian loss 2160.
1800. The Ionian republic, formed under the protection of the porte.
Corfu, Zante and other Venitian isles formed the confederation.
1801. Battle of Aboukir, or Alexandria, in Egypt, between the French
under Menou, and the British and Turks under Abercrombie. The French
were defeated with the loss of 3000 killed, and the standard of the
invincible regiment taken, the officer bearing this famous banner being
killed, and nearly the whole of those celebrated soldiers annihilated.
British loss 1376, and their commander, Abercrombie, mortally wounded.
1803. EDWARD MARCUS DESPARD, an Irish officer, executed for treason. He
was appointed superintendent of the English colonies in the West Indies,
where his conduct led to a recall; out of his subsequent treatment grew
a desire for revenge, which led him on to his fate.