285 B. C. DIONYSIUS of Alexandria began his astronomical era. He was the
first to find the exact limits of the solar year, which he made to
consist of 365 days, 5 hours, 49 minutes.
44 B. C. The memorable conference between Brutus and Cassius, and Cicero
at Antium.
363. JULIAN, emperor of Rome, died, aged 32. He was elected by his
soldiery, on the death of Constantius, and soon declared himself a
pagan. He was learned and in his private character respectable.
1276. INNOCENT V (Peter de Tarantaise), pope of Rome, died.
1541. FRANCISCO PIZARRO, the Spanish adventurer, assassinated in his own
palace, at noonday, by the friends of Almagro, at the age of 63.
1569. VICTORIUS STRIGELIUS died; a learned professor at Leipsic, and one
of Luther's first disciples.
1574. GABRIEL DE MONTGOMERY, a zealous protestant nobleman, beheaded at
Paris by order of Catharine, who sacrificed him to her unjust revenge.
(See June 29, 1559.)
1657. OLIVER CROMWELL solemnly inaugurated lord protector.
1685. RUMBOLD, the maltster who contrived the Rye house plot taken and
executed at Edinburgh.
1688. RALPH CUDWORTH, a celebrated English divine, died. He was a man of
extensive erudition, well skilled in the languages, an able philosopher,
an acute mathematician and a profound metaphysician.
1691. JOHN FLAVEL died; an English divine, author of _Navigation and
Husbandry Spiritualized_, &c.
1696. Portsmouth plain, N. H., attacked by the Indians; five houses were
assaulted at once, early in the morning, and 14 persons killed on the
spot. One was scalped and left for dead, but afterwards recovered.
1708. The act vacating extravagant grants of land in New York confirmed.
1719. ALEXIS PETROVITZ, only son of Peter the great of Russia, died in
prison. His intemperance alienated him from his father, and he died in
prison under sentence of death.
1748. Indian battle of Marlborough, Vt. Captain Hobbs with 40 men from
No. 4, (Charlestown) on his march through the woods was attacked by a
large body of Indians. Without the least knowledge of their force, Hobbs
instantly gave them a well directed fire, which checked their
impetuosity. A sharp action ensued of four hours, without either side
yielding an inch of their original ground. Sacket, who led the Indians,
finally ordered a retreat, carrying off the dead and wounded. Three of
the English were killed, and as many wounded. This defence was
considered at the time a masterpiece of bravery; the Indians being
estimated four to one of the English.
1749. A conspiracy discovered at Malta against the knights; 125 slaves
suffered death.
1752. GIULIO ALBERONI, a Spanish statesman, died, aged 89. He was the
son of a gardener, and became a great and ambitious man.
1782. Slavery entirely abolished in Austrian Poland.
1784. CÆSAR RODNEY, president of Delaware, died, aged about 54. He voted
for the declaration of independence, and was enabled to afford efficient
aid to Washington in the prosecution of the war. His death is usually
placed in 1783.
1793. GILBERT WHITE, an English naturalist and antiquary, died.
1794. Battle of Fleurus, in Belgium; the allies defeated by the French
under Jourdan, after a contest of 15 hours. On this occasion, Coutel, an
æronaut, with 2 officers, reconnoitered the contending armies in an air
balloon.
1795. PETER DEMOURS died; a French surgeon and oculist, known for his
dexterity, and author of some professional works.
1799. The first newspaper at Brooklyn, New York, issued.
1799. Naples surrendered to lord Nelson; on which occasion Ferdinand
created him duke of Bronte. _Bronte_ was the forge of Cyclops, on which
he forged the thunder of Jove. He also presented him with an estate
worth $18,000 per annum, and a sword valued at 60,000 ducats.
1807. British order in council, blockading the Ems and rivers on the
Baltic.
1807. Conference on the river Niemen between Bonaparte, Alexander of
Russia and Frederick William of Prussia.
1810. JOSEPH MONTGOLFIER, the celebrated inventor of balloons, died.
1814. Attack of the American flotilla and marines under commodore
Barney, upon two British frigates moored at St. Leonard's creek, which
were compelled to retire.
1830. GEORGE IV, of England, died.
1831. Cholera made its appearance at St. Petersburg. The number of cases
in the first 18 days, 4,916; deaths, 2,219.
1834. GILBERT BLANE, a distinguished Scottish physician, died, aged 85.
His career was marked by a zeal for the mitigation of the evils of war
and a sea life, and a diligent cultivation and exertion of solid
talents.
1835. ENOCH CROSBY, the _Harvey Birch_ of Cooper's _Spy_, died. His
services were of great benefit to the commander in chief during a part
of the revolutionary war.
1848. JOHN J. DE GRAFF died at Schenectady; formerly a representative in
congress.
1848. EDWARD B. PHILLIPS died at Brattleborough, leaving an immense
fortune, which he did not know how to enjoy. He bequeathed Harvard
university $100,000.
1849. Panama rail road stock ($1,000,000) subscribed, without effort, in
New York city.
1849. The great crevasse in the levee of the Mississippi river was
stopped.
1852. RALPH WORMLY, a British admiral, died at Utica, New York. He was
retired from actual service, and had resided for some time in Boston.
1853. The czar of Russia issued a manifesto respecting the Turkish
question to his own subjects, pretending to act as the champion of
Christianity.
1855. JOHN J. GUION, a Mississippi jurist, died, aged 54. He held
various important offices of state with ability.