1381. WAT TYLER treacherously killed at Blackheath, where he had
assembled the malcontents in great numbers, and the insurrection was
suppressed.
1467. PHILIP (_the good_), duke of Burgundy, died. His life was spent in
war; and the title which he acquired seems to have been forfeited by his
last act, the burning of the town of Dinan, which he was carried on his
bed to witness, at the age of 72.
1520. MARTIN LUTHER excommunicated by Leo X.
1530. CHARLES V made a public entry into Augsburg, where the members of
the diet had assembled. The famous decree, called the _Confession of
Augsburg_, drawn up by Melancthon, was then read.
1560. The massy spire of St. Paul's church, London, was burned down by
lightning.
1568. GILES CORROZET died at Paris; a French bookseller, and author of
several works of merit.
1643. ABEL JANSEN TASMAN, the Dutch navigator, arrived at Batavia,
after having sailed round the southern side of the globe. He started in
September, 1642, and discovered Van Dieman's land and the island of New
Zealand, which he called Staten island.
1735. RENE AUBERT DE VERTOT D'AUBŒUF, an elegant French historical
writer, died, aged 80. He united the virtues of private life to great
intelligence, deep penetration, and an elegant taste.
1744. ANSON arrived at Spithead, after a voyage of three years and nine
months round the world. The treasures of the famous Acapulco galleon
were conveyed to London in 32 wagons, and the booty divided among those
brave men who had shared his glory and toils.
1746. Battle of Placentia, between the allies and Spaniards.
1749. The fleet of sir Edward Cornwallis, having on board over 3000
British colonists, dropped anchor in the spacious harbor of Halifax,
Nova Scotia.
1756. The nabob of SURAJAH DOWLA invested Calcutta at the head of 70,000
horse and foot, and 400 elephants.
1768. JAMES SHORT, a celebrated Scottish optician, died. He was of
humble origin, but became a noted and wealthy man. His telescopes were
long surpassed only by those of Herschel.
1768. The commissioners of the customs at Boston requested Gen. Gage to
support them in the execution of their office with a military force.
1775. WASHINGTON appointed commander in chief of the American army.
1776. The legislature of New Hampshire voted unanimously that their
delegates in congress should join with the other delegates in declaring
the 13 united colonies a free and independent state.
1776. The British under sir Henry Clinton attacked Sullivan's island,
and were repulsed by Gen. Lee.
1785. PILATRE DE ROSIER, a French æronaut, killed. He was attempting to
cross the English channel from Boulogne; but the balloon took fire soon
after its ascent, and he was precipitated to the earth.
1794. A memorable eruption of mount Vesuvius.
1811. A marine volcano burst through the sea in 40 fathoms of water, at
the west end of St. Michaels, one of the Azores, about three miles from
land.
1815. Battle of Fleury, in which Bonaparte with 150,000 men, attacked
the Prussians and English of 200,000, and drove them back, and the next
day defeated them at Ligny.
1826. The sultan of Turkey defeated and abolished the ancient corps of
Janizaries. This military body, consisting of trained captives, was
first instituted by the third Amurath, in 1362.
1836. Arkansas admitted into the Union.
1840. FRANCIS BEAUGUARD died at Grey Nun's hospital, Montreal, aged
nearly 108.
1841. The town of Praia, in the island of Terceira, completely destroyed
by an earthquake. Much damage was also done to other places in the
island by a series of earthquakes.
1844. THOMAS CAMPBELL, a distinguished British poet, author of the
_Pleasures of Hope_, died at Boulogne, in a state of imbecility, aged
67.
1852. Queen VICTORIA issued a proclamation against "Roman catholic
ecclesiastics wearing the habits of their order, exercising the rites
and ceremonies of the Roman catholic religion in highways and places of
public resort."
1852. ROGER JONES, an American military officer of distinction, died at
Washington. He commenced his military career in 1809, and as a
lieutenant of marines, and served in the war of 1812. His zeal and
activity in the arduous campaigns on the Niagara frontier, and his
distinguished gallantry as a major of the staff in the memorable
conflicts of Chippewa, Lundy's Lane, and the sortie of fort Erie, won
for him universal respect and admiration, and the marked approbation of
the government.
1854. JAMES KENDLE BROWNE died in Mark lane, London, aged 82; the father
of the corn exchange.
1856. JOHN DICKS ECCLES, an eminent North Carolina lawyer and orator,
died at Fayetteville, aged 64.
1857. The citizens of Halifax, Nova Scotia, celebrated the 108th
anniversary of the settlement of that place.