1483. EDWARD IV, of England, died. He disputed the crown with Henry VI
and involved the kingdom in war and bloodshed, till the death of the
latter, when he ascended the throne unmolested. He became a voluptuary,
and died from excessive eating.
1483. Dr. SHAW, brother to the lord mayor of London, preached a sermon
on the text "_Bastard slips shall not thrive._" It was not productive of
many converts.
1547. EDWARD VI succeeded to the throne of England on the death of Henry
VIII.
1589. THOMAS SAMPSON, a noted English nonconformist divine, died. During
the reign of Mary, he fled to Geneva, where he was engaged in the
translation of the _Genevan Bible_.
1609. HUDSON left the Texel on his memorable voyage of discovery, in the
yacht "Halve Maan," of forty lasts (80 tons) burden; a size which easily
admits the supposition that he ascended the river as far as Half-Moon,
or Waterford.
1626. FRANCIS BACON, an English philosopher, died, aged 66. At the age
of 13 he entered the university, where he made the most astonishing
progress in all the sciences then taught, and at the age of 16 attacked
the Aristotlean philosophy. He succeeded rapidly in office under
government, and in 1619 was appointed lord high chancellor of England
and baron of Verulam. Here, unfortunately, he sullied his name, and was
fined, imprisoned and degraded, for bribery and corruption. This
extraordinary man is justly entitled to the appellation of "the father
of experimental philosophy."
1648. A great insurrection of the people of London by reason of the
parliament abolishing holydays.
1670. SAMUEL SORBIERRE, a French writer, died. He was educated for the
protestant ministry, but abandoned that faith for popery, without much
advantage to himself, as his sincerity was suspected. His literary
reputation is also somewhat tarnished.
1697. WILLIAM, earl of Craven, died in his 89th year. The nobility of
England are famed for longevity.
1747. SIMON FRAZER, Lord Lovat, executed on Towerhill, aged 80. He was a
Scottish statesman, educated among the Jesuits in France. His life was a
scene of treachery and misdemeanor, which compelled him to fly from one
country to another. Finally, joining the rebellion of 1745, he was
seized and condemned, and died like a martyr.
1754. CHRISTIAN WOLFF, a Prussian philosopher, died. In consequence of a
Latin oration on the Chinese, which gave offence to the clergy, he was
expelled from the country; but the honors conferred upon him by other
countries, led to his recall by the king, when his merits were duly
rewarded, and his former injuries obliviated. His whole life was devoted
to advance the interests of science and virtue.
1759. NICHOLAS HARDINGE died, an eminent English scholar, and author of
some Latin poems.
1761. WILLIAM LAW, an English dissenting divine, died. He is well known
as the author of the _Serious Call_.
1780. Charleston invaded by the British land and naval forces under Sir
Henry Clinton.
1790. NICHOLAS SYLVESTER BERGIER, a French ecclesiastic, died. He is the
author of several learned and valuable works. His talents and worth
commanded preferments, until he declined any more, replying that he was
rich enough!
1795. An act for the encouragement of common schools passed by the
legislature of New York.
1796. A British squadron under Sir Edward Pellew captured a large French
convoy, under the protection of La Volage, 26 guns, which was driven on
shore.
1804. JAMES NECKER, a Swiss statesman, died. He was sent as ambassador
to France, where his abilities were so much respected, that he was twice
elevated to the rank of prime minister. But the revolution destroyed his
popularity, and he retired to Copet, where he died. He is the author of
a work on the finances of France.
1807. JOHN OPIE, an eminent English painter, died. He was the son of a
humble carpenter, and was drawn from obscurity by the patronage of Dr.
Wolcott (alias _Peter Pindar_). He not only became an excellent artist,
but also an admirable writer on the art.
1813. The Chesapeake frigate, Capt. Evans, returned to Boston from a
cruise, having captured during an absence of four months, 2 British
brigs and 1 ship, 1 American brig with a British license, and a
schooner.
1831. Battle near Siedlce, in Poland, in which the Russians were
defeated.
1854. The English and French vessels on the coast of Thessaly were
directed to search all vessels suspected of having munitions of war on
board, and to seize such as were so found.
1855. All the English and French batteries opened on Sebastopol, and
continued incessantly through the night and following day. The Russian
loss was acknowledged by Gortschakoff at 833 killed and wounded.