1110. ROBERT, abbot of Molesme, founder of the Cistersians, died. The
Cistersian monks allotted several hours of the day to copying books, or
sacred studies and manual labor. (See March 28, 1134.)
1390. ROBERT II, of Scotland, died, aged 84. He was the first of the
house of Stuart who reigned, and was crowned in 1371. On the accession
of Richard II of England a war commenced which continued during the
greater part of his reign.
1529. The elector of Saxony, marquis of Brandenburg, landgrave of Hesse,
dukes of Lunenburg, prince of Anhalt, together with 14 imperial cities,
entered a solemn protest against the decree of the diet of Spires
condemning their nonconformity to the Romish church by abolishing the
mass, &c., declaring the decree unjust and impious. Hence they were
distinguished by the name of _protestants_.
1560. PHILIP MELANCHTHON, a celebrated German divine, died. He was a
coadjutor with Luther in the reformation, and one of the wisest and
greatest men of his age.
1593. GILES BAYS died; a celebrated Parisian printer, and the first
after Ramas to make a distinction between j & i and u & v in printing.
1598. HENRY IV of France published the memorable edict of Nantes, by
which protestantism was tolerated in his dominions.
1608. THOMAS SACKVILLE, an English statesman and poet, died. He
distinguished himself as a writer by the tragedy of _Gorboduc_, the
first regular play on the English stage. As a statesman he has left a
fair character.
1618. THOMAS BASTARD died, a poet and preacher of England, of
considerable learning and ability.
1669. GEORGE BATE, an English physician, died. He had the talent and
address to keep his situation as court physician to Charles I, Cromwell
and Charles II. He wrote an account of the civil wars in Latin.
1684. The Synod of Edinburgh changed the year of confirmation for
children from 8 to 16 years.
1689. CHRISTINA, queen of Sweden, died. She resigned the sceptre, 1654,
became a catholic, and resided at Rome. She was a woman of great
abilities and learning, and corresponded with the learned men of the day
in different languages.
1689. The toleration act, so famous among dissenters and others in
England, was passed.
1710. The 5 Mohawk chiefs, who were taken to England by Col. Schuyler,
attended an audience of great state with the queen, and made a speech.
1739. NICHOLAS SAUNDERSON, an English mathematician, died. He lost his
sight from smallpox, at the age of one year; notwithstanding which he
acquired a knowledge of Greek and Latin, pursued his studies with the
assistance of friends, and was sent to Cambridge University, where he
became acquainted with Newton, and was finally chosen professor of
mathematics. His eminence in the science of certainties has rarely been
equaled.
1747. THOMAS COXETER, an English antiquary, died. He was a faithful and
industrious collector of old English literature, amassed materials for a
biography of the English poets, and assisted Ames in his _History of
English Typography_.
1751. JOHN BANKS, an English author, died. He was originally a weaver's
apprentice.
1751. LA CAILLE arrived at the cape of Good Hope, for the purpose of
observing the southern hemisphere. He remained there three years, during
which period he determined the exact position of ten thousand stars, and
fixed the situation of the isles of France and Bourbon.
1765. While at dinner with his family at Redriffe, in England, a
blacksmith was killed by a cannon ball projected from an old cannon
thrown into a neighboring furnace for fusion.
1775. Battle of Lexington, which commenced the revolutionary war. About
800 British grenadiers and light infantry, proceeding to destroy the
military stores at Concord, fell in with about 70 militia, upon whom
they fired and killed 8. The British proceeded to Concord, where they
partially effected their purpose, but were compelled to retreat before
the gathering provincials, although reinforced by 900 men and 2 pieces
of cannon. In this excursion the British lost 65 killed, 180 wounded,
and 28 prisoners. The provincials lost 88 killed, wounded and missing.
1779. Col. VAN SCHAICK marched from fort Schuyler and destroyed
Onondaga, N. Y., killed 12 Indians, took 34 prisoners, together with a
large quantity of stores, arms, horses, &c. He returned without losing a
man.
1782. Holland acknowledged the independence of the United States.
1783. Cessation of hostilities was proclaimed in the American army, just
eight years from the day on which the war commenced. The loss of lives
to the Americans during this war was estimated at 70,000 men, vast
numbers of whom died on board of prison ships; not less than 11,000 died
in the Jersey prison ship alone.
1787. Dr. HERSCHEL observed three lunar volcanoes.
1791. RICHARD PRICE, an eminent English divine, died; celebrated for his
great abilities in arithmetical calculations, and for very numerous and
valuable writings, theological, political and scientific.
1797. Battle of Diersheim, between the Austrians under the veteran Gen.
Kray, and the French under Hoche, &c. The former were defeated with the
loss of 4000 prisoners, and all their cannon, baggage, ammunition, &c.
1797. The French under Moreau defeated the Austrians and entered Kehl.
The Austrians fled, abandoning everything to the enemy.
1813. BENJAMIN RUSH, a distinguished American physician and statesman,
died. He was a member of Congress in 1776, and a signer of the
declaration of independence. Few men have been greater ornaments to the
country, and very few have acquired greater reputation both at home and
abroad.
1824. GEORGE GORDON, lord Byron, died aged 36. At the age of 19 he
published a volume of his juvenile poems, which were the precursors of
some of the rarest productions which the language affords. His career
was marked by singularities and dissipation. Having embarked in the
struggle of the Greeks for liberty, he was attacked by fever and died at
Missolonghi.
1833. JAMES GAMBIER, a British admiral died. He commanded the fleet
which took possession of the Danish navy in 1807. He was characterized
by great piety and benevolence.
1837. M. ANCILLON, a Prussian minister, died at Berlin, aged 70; eminent
as a statesman, philosopher and publicist.
1839. AARON OGDEN, an American statesman and patriot, died. He served as
an officer during the whole of the revolutionary war; after which he
practiced law for many years with great reputation, and held important
civil offices.
1854. JOHN DAVIS, a Massachusetts statesman of great ability, died, aged
67.
1856. THOMAS ROGERS, a noted manufacturer of cotton machinery, died in
New York, aged 64. He early turned his attention to the construction of
iron work and machinery for rail roads, and in 1835 began the
manufacture of locomotives, in the construction of which he became
greatly distinguished.