63 B. C. The Roman capitol fired during the night by an incendiary and
consumed. The famous _sibyline verses_ perished with it.
1189. HENRY II, of England, died. He added Brittany and Ireland to his
dominions, attempted to repress the ambition of the clergy, and died of
a broken heart at the rebellion of his children.
1303. BENEDICT XI (_Nicholas Bacosin_), pope, died. He was the son of a
shepherd, succeeded Boniface VIII, and was poisoned by his cardinals.
1439. The solemn act of reunion between the Greek and Latin churches
subscribed in the cathedral of Florence, after a separation of 600
years, by the pope, the emperor of Constantinople, and principal members
of both churches.
1483. RICHARD III, with his consort (Anne Beauchamp, widow of Edward,
prince of Wales), inaugurated at Westminster. The train of the king was
borne by the duke of Buckingham, that of the queen by the countess of
Richmond, both of the opposing houses of Lancaster.
1553. EDWARD VI, of England, died of consumption, aged 16, and was
succeeded by his sister Mary.
1568. JOHN OPORINUS, one of the most learned and eminent of the early
German printers, died. He employed 6 presses and 50 men, and printed
only his own works.
1583. EDMUND GRINDAL, archbishop of Canterbury, died; an able
theological writer.
1630. A fleet of 14 sail, with men, women and children, and provisions,
intended to make a firm settlement in New England, arrived in
Massachusetts bay. There were on board about 1,500 passengers of various
occupations, principally from the vicinity of London; among whom was
governor Winthrop and his lieutenant Dudley, with several other
gentlemen of wealth and quality. The expense of this equipment and
transportation was £21,200.
1653. CROMWELL'S first parliament met.
1660. CHARLES II, of England, resumed touching for scrofula; placing his
hands on the neck of the patient, the chaplain saying "He laid his hands
on them and healed them."
1759. WILLIAM PEPPERELL died; an officer in the British service before
the American revolution, and 32 years a member of his majesty's council.
He was born in Maine, rose to the highest military honors, and in 1745
commanded the expedition against Louisburg, which was reduced. He was
rewarded with the title of baronet of England.
1767. MICHAEL BRUCE, an elegant Scottish poet, died, aged 21.
1775. Congress issued a manifesto, setting forth the causes and
necessity of taking up arms in defence of their rights, against England.
1777. Ticonderoga and mount Independence evacuated by the American
general St. Clair, who retreated to fort Edward. At the same time the
Americans at Skeenesborough were obliged to burn their vessels, and
retreat to the same place. The British under Burgoyne had advanced their
works so far as to threaten a complete inclosure of the continental
army.
1779. Action off Granada between the British fleet, admiral Barrington,
21 ships, and French fleet, 27 ships, admiral d'Estaing. Although the
French avoided a close action, it is supposed that their loss was 1,200
killed, owing to their ships being crowded with men. British loss 529
killed and wounded.
1781. Battle of James river; general Wayne with 800 men, intending to
strike Cornwallis's rear guard, was deceived by a countryman, and met
the whole army of 4,000 regulars, drawn up to receive him. He instantly
attacked them and retreated. Cornwallis, from the daring singularity of
the manœuvre, concluded it to be a feint to draw him into an
ambuscade, therefore did not pursue him. Wayne, however, lost his
artillery.
1782. Sixth action between the British fleet, admiral Hughes, and
French, admiral Suffrein, in the night, in close action. Both fleets
suffered much; French lost the Orient, crew saved.
1790. Some workmen engaged in digging near Donadea, Ireland, discovered
a vault, 12 feet by 8, and 6 f. 3 in. deep, containing a stone coffin in
which rested a skeleton measuring 8 feet 3½ in. in length, by the
side of which was a spear 7 feet in length and two brass urns, having
the sun and moon engraved on them in a most curious, though antique
manner. The vault was seventeen feet from the surface of the ground and
no clue could be found to the identity of the body, or the time of its
deposit there.
1790. GEORGE AUGUSTUS ELIOTT, lord Heathfield, died. He gained much
celebrity in the Prussian service, and during the seven years' war in
Germany; but his constancy and talent in defence of Gibraltar during
three years of constant investment, in which all the powers of Spain
were employed, excited the admiration of the world.
1796. ADAM STANISLAUS MARUSZEWICH, a Polish poet and historian, died.
1801. Action off Algesiras between the British and French fleets. A
British 74 grounded and was captured.
1809. British sloop of war Bonne Citoyenne captured in 6 hours 50
minutes French frigate La Furieuse. British loss 1 killed, 5 wounded;
French loss 35 killed, 37 wounded.
1809. Battle of Wagram, between the French army of 180,000 under
Napoleon, and the Austrians under the archduke Charles, of about half
the force. The battle commenced on the 5th, and was decided on the 6th.
The Austrians were compelled to retreat, after having taken 7,000
prisoners and 12 eagles, and retired fighting three days in succession,
leaving the field of battle covered with their slain. It is stated that
27,000 fell on both sides. The French reckoned their loss 15,000 killed,
about 4,000 wounded. Of the Austrians 12,000 were wounded, and 20,000
taken prisoners; 19 generals were killed or taken, and 40 cannon lost.
1813. GRANVILLE SHARP, a learned English philanthropist, died. He
interested himself in the abolition of slavery, and to his exertions
"England owes the verdict of her highest court of law, that the slave
who sets his foot on English ground becomes that instant free."
1815. SAMUEL WHITBREAD, member of the British parliament and one of the
most extensive brewers in the world, died by his own hand.
1823. PIUS VII (_Gregory Barnabas Chiaramonti_), pope, died. He was a
prisoner under Napoleon from 1808 to 1814, during which time he rejected
with firmness the offers of the emperor.
1835. JOHN MARSHALL, chief justice of the United States, died, aged 80.
He was an extraordinary man, and the object of universal respect and
confidence, on account of his extraordinary talents, his unsuspected
integrity, his exemplary private virtues, and his important public
services, which by some are deemed second only to those of Washington.
He wrote the _Life of Washington_, 5 vols.
1838. ALEXANDER AIKMAN, late printer of the _Jamaica Royal Gazette_,
died. His exertions spread much light in that island.
1839. Great fire at Eastport, Me., by which the larger portion of the
business part of the town was destroyed.
1849. Successful sortie of the Danes besieged in the fort of Frederick
by the Schleswig Holsteiners, of whom 3,112 were slain and taken
prisoners.
1851. DAVID MACBETH MOIR, a Scottish writer, died at Dumfries, aged 53.
He was the _Delta_ of _Blackwood's Magazine_, to which he was long a
contributor, and in whose pages first appeared _Mansie Wauch_, which was
long ascribed to Galt.
1857. JOHN LAURIS BLAKE, an American divine, died at Orange, N. J., aged
68. His principal work is a _Biographical Dictionary_, of which several
editions were printed.