71 B. C. The range of embankments thrown up by Titus against the wall of
Jerusalem, the work of 17 days, was undermined and consumed, or buried
in a pit of fire, with all the Roman engines. This was effected by the
skill and conduct of John, the high priest.
1379. HENRY II, of Castile, died. He ascended the throne by the murder
of Peter the cruel, which he perpetrated with his own hand. He was one
of the bravest princes of his time, and won the good will of his
subjects.
1405. Battle of Shipton moor; prince Henry dispersed the 8,000
insurgents under Scroop, by seizing the persons of their leaders.
1453. Constantinople taken by the Turks under Mohammed II, which
terminated the Greek empire, after an existence of ten centuries.
Constantine XIII (Paleologus), was killed, and the beautiful Irene,
whose fate is dramatized by Johnson, was one of the captives.
1545. DAVID BEATON, archbishop of St. Andrews, assassinated. He was a
great persecutor of heretics, and united with great talents equally
great vices.
1588. The Spanish armada, intended for the annihilation of England,
sailed from the Tagus, under the duke of Medina Sidonia. The armament
consisted of 92 galleons, or large ships of the line, 4 galliases, 30
frigates, 30 transports for horse, and 4 galleys; on board whereof were
8,350 marines, 2,080 galley-slaves, and 19,290 land-forces. The fleet
was dispersed by a storm, and compelled to rendezvous at Corunna for
repairs.
1593. JOHN PENRY, an English controversial writer, executed for heresy
against the episcopacy.
1660. CHARLES II made his entry into London, after a long series of
misfortunes and exile, and re-established the royalty, which had been
suspended about 12 years.
1672. The new conduit erected in London by sir Thomas Vyner, ran with
wine for a few hours in honor of the birthday and restoration of Charles
II.
1691. CORNELIUS TROMP died; a Dutch admiral in the service of the
republic, succeeded de Ruyter, 1670, as admiral of the fleets of the
United Provinces.
1700. MICHAEL ANTHONY BAUDRAND, a French ecclesiastic, died; author of a
_Geographical Dictionary_, 2 vols. folio.
1715. Great riot in London; the whigs complaining that unless they
shouted high church and the duke of Ormond, they were insulted by the
tories.
1758. Action between the French ship Raisonable, 64 guns, prince di
Mombazon, and British ship Dennis, 70 guns. The Frenchman was captured
with the loss of 61 killed, 100 wounded.
1762. The duke of Newcastle on resigning his premiership in the British
ministry being offered a pension declined, saying, "if he could no
_longer_ serve he could not _burden_ his country."
1780. Battle of Waxhaws, S. C., col. Tarleton, with 700 cavalry and
infantry, came up with 300 continentals under col. Buford, who
surrendered after a short action. A few continuing to fire after the
main body had surrendered, an indiscriminate slaughter ensued. Tarleton
states that 113 Americans were killed, 153 too badly wounded to
proceed, and 53 taken prisoners.
1780. Great meeting of the protestant association was held in
Coachmakers' hall, London, lord George Gordon presiding, saying that he
would not present the petition unless signed by 20,000.
1785. ANDREW COLTEE DUCAREL, a French antiquary, died. His researches
were confined to England.
1790. ISRAEL PUTNAM, a revolutionary officer, died. He was one of the
most daring, brave and intrepid officers of the army, and his adventures
almost border on romance.
1790. Rhode Island adopted the constitution of the United States, adding
the 13th pillar to the federal edifice, by a majority of only 2--34
ayes, 32 noes; recommending amendments.
1793. The general assembly of Corsica, consisting of 1,009 delegates,
unanimously expelled the Bonaparte family.
1796. The floor of the methodist meeting house at Leeds, England, gave
way during service, and 18 persons were killed, and about 80 dreadfully
wounded.
1811. Battle of Taragonna, in Spain, which was assaulted by the French
under Suchet. The garrison consisted of 2,500 men, of whom only 903
prisoners were taken; the remainder were put to the sword.
1813. Attack on Sacketts Harbor, by the British under Yoe and Provost:
they were repulsed with the loss of 260; American loss 156.
1814. British repulsed by maj. Finney of the Accomac militia, at
Pongoteague creek.
1814. JOSEPHINE, ex-empress of France, died.
1820. CHRISTIAN WILLIAM VON DOHM, a Prussian statesman and scholar,
died.
1823. JOHN PHILLIPS, an eminent lawyer in Boston, died, aged 53.
1829. HUMPHREY DAVY, the noted English chemist, died. He made several
important discoveries in the science, and invented the miner's safety
lamp.
1832. GEORGE BURDER, an English divine, died, aged 80; author of the
_Village Sermons_, now so popular.
1837. JOHN AFZELIUS, an eminent Swedish chemist, died at Upsal, aged 84.
1839. DAVID KIRKPATRICK, an officer of the revolution, died. He entered
the army at the commencement of the war, was in the battles of Monmouth,
Germantown, Brandywine, Trenton, Cowpens, &c., and was the last
surviving officer of the Delaware line.
1840. WILLIAM LEGGET, a well known political writer, died at Rochelle,
near New York, when preparing for a diplomatic mission to Guatemala.
1848. THOMAS DICK LANDER, a distinguished Scottish literary writer,
died.
1849. SARAH J. HOWE, an American poetess and literary writer, died at
Louisville.
1855. JESSE CHICKERING, an American statistician, died at Roxbury,
Mass., aged 57. He studied theology, and afterwards medicine, but after
a practice of ten years devoted himself to literature, and produced
works on population and immigration.
1856. The president transmitted to congress the announcement that he had
ceased to hold diplomatic intercourse with the British minister, Mr.
Crampton, on account of his attempting to make enlistments for the
British service among the citizens of the United States.