431 B. C. The dictator TUBERTUS POSTHUMUS gained a victory over the Æqui
and Volsci, inconsiderable but noxious enemies of the commonwealth.
1081. ROBERT GUISCARD opened the famous siege of Durazzo, now in
European Turkey, on the gulf of Venice.
1272. An attempt made to assassinate Edward I of England in his tent at
Acre, by a messenger of the emir of Joppa. He received the blow on his
arm, grappled with the assassin, and throwing him on the ground
despatched him with his own dagger. The life of the prince was saved by
his wife, who sucked the poison from the wound.
1458. ALFONSO V, of Arragon (_the magnanimous_), died. He made himself
master of Naples and Sicily; aside from his exploits as a warrior, he
was a learned man and the patron of learning, and the father of his
people.
1614. WILLIAM BATHE, an Irish Jesuit, died. He was rector of an Irish
school at Salamanca, and a writer on music and divinity.
1639. The king and his Scottish subjects met at Dunse, in Scotland, and
agreed that matters ecclesiastical should be decided by an assembly,
civil matters by parliament.
1658. Dunkirk surrendered to the French, and by them put into the hands
of the English.
1673. Father MARQUETTE, and JOLIET a citizen of Quebec, employed by M.
Talon for the discovery of the Mississippi, entered that noble river.
They descended to within three days' journey of the gulf of Mexico.
1685. The unfortunate duke of Argyle taken in a morass.
1696. JOHN SOBIESKI, king of Poland, died. He distinguished himself on
many occasions in the Polish wars but the greatest of his exploits was
the raising of the siege of Vienna, by which Europe was saved from the
calamities consequent upon an irruption of the Turks.
1719. JOSEPH ADDISON, editor of the _Spectator_, died. He was the
ornament of his age and country, and his writings will long continue to
be read and admired.
1734. LOUIS HECTOR VILLARS, peer of France, died, aged 82. He early
adopted the profession of arms, and distinguished himself through a long
life as a brave and efficient officer.
1740. WILLIAM WYNDHAM, an eminent English statesman, died. His abilities
led to his promotion to the highest offices in the state.
1745. Louisbourg, cape Breton, taken from the French by the British and
Massachusetts forces, under governor Shirley and admiral sir Peter
Warren.
1761. The first English "navigation canal" opened, extending from
Worsley to Manchester, 18 miles. It originated with Scroope, duke of
Bridgewater.
1775. Battle of Bunker's hill, and burning of Charlestown by the
British. The Americans were defeated with the loss of 453 killed,
wounded and missing. The killed, and those who died of their wounds were
139, including general Warren. British loss, 1,054, of whom 226 were
killed, and among them colonel Abercromby and major Pitcairn, who
occasioned the first shedding of blood at Lexington.
1776. British transports, George and Arabella, captured in Boston bay by
six American privateers. Among the prisoners taken was the honorable
Archibald Campbell, and 271 Highlanders.
1780. Bank opened in Philadelphia for supplying the army with
provisions, and £189,000 subscribed, payable in gold and silver.
1788. Convention at Poughkeepsie, N. Y., to consider the federal
constitution.
1789. The tiers etat, of France, were joined by the whole body of
inferior clergy with some nobles. They constituted themselves into a
legislative body, and took the name of national assembly.
1791. SELINA, countess of Huntington, died. From habits of gaiety and
dissipation, she became suddenly grave and pious, and was distinguished
by very extensive charities.
1792. Battle of Zielime, in which the Polish army was defeated by a
superior force of Russians. The action lasted from 7 in the morning till
5 in the evening. Loss of the Russians 4,000; that of the Poles 1,100.
1794. Ypres, in Belgium, surrendered to the French under Moreau. Four
battalions of Austrians, 6 of Hessians, 2 of Baden, 200 horse chasseurs,
150 Austrian cannoniers, were taken prisoners, with 140 cannon.
1799. First day's battle of the Trebia, between the French under
Macdonald, and the Russians and Austrians under Suwarrow. The French
were compelled to fall back.
1807. Konigsberg, the capital of Prussia proper, taken by the French
under Soult. Immense stores, with nearly 300 loaded vessels, 160,000
stand of arms, &c., were taken.
1810. JAMES CHALMERS, printer to the city and university of Aberdeen,
and proprietor of the _Aberdeen Journal_, died.
1812. The _Decameron_ of Boccacio, a single volume small folio, printed
in 1471, sold at the sale of the duke of Roxburgh's library to the
marquis of Blandford, for £2,260.
1814. HENRY TRESHAM died; an Irish poet and painter of merit.
1815. The allied army under Wellington fell back on Waterloo, and
Blucher to Wavre. The earl of Uxbridge made a brilliant charge of
cavalry at Gemappe.
1815. British order in council, forbidding the Americans to use the
British territories for purposes connected with the Newfoundland
fisheries.
1825. Corner stone of Bunker hill monument laid with great and
enthusiastic ceremonies; Lafayette being present.
1839. WILLIAM BENTINCK, an English statesman, died. He had sustained
many high public offices, was a general in the army, and ten years
governor-general of India.
1850. The steamer Griffith on lake Erie was burnt and 300 lives lost.
1852. THOMAS BUFFUM died, aged 75; an active man in the political
history of Rhode Island, who had filled with credit many offices of
honor and trust.
1852. JOHN TRIMBLE, a Kentucky judge, died, aged 69; having sustained
the character of an able and upright man.
1852. WILLIAM KING, first governor of Maine, died, aged 84. He removed
to Bath early in the present century, and his name is identified most
intimately with all that relates to the separation from Massachusetts,
and the adoption of the state constitution. He held various civil
offices with ability and fidelity.
1852. The city of Sonora, in California, was nearly destroyed by fire.
1854. SEWARD BARCULO, a New York jurist of distinction, died, aged 50.
He was chosen justice of the supreme court at the first judicial
election held under the new state constitution.
1854. JOSIAH HOLBROOK, a distinguished advocate of popular education,
died, aged 65. He was a native of Derby, Ct., and graduated at Yale
college in 1810. He was very successful in diffusing among the young a
love for the study of mineralogy and geology. He lost his life by
accidently falling into Blackrock creek, near Lynchburg, Va., while on a
geological excursion.