472. PROCOPIUS ANTHEMIUS, emperor of Rome, murdered. He acquired the
title of Augustus by his valor. Ricimir, a general to whom he had given
his daughter in marriage, burst the gates of Rome, and imbrued his hands
in the blood of his father-in-law, while his barbarian followers were
indulged without control, in the three-fold license of murder, rapine
and indiscriminate pillage.
1103. ERIC (the good), king of Denmark, died at Cyprus.
1191. Acre, in Palestine, surrendered by the Saracens to the crusaders
under Richard of England and Philip of France, who had besieged it two
years. Nine battles were fought in the vicinity of mount Carmel, with
such vicissitudes of fortune, that in one attack the sultan forced his
way into the city, while in a sally the Christians penetrated the royal
tent. There were slain, by the computation of the minister of Saladin,
100,000 Christians.
1450. JACK CADE, an Irishman who headed a rebellion in England, was
slain near Lewes, and his head placed on London bridge.
1576. MARTIN FROBISHER, the navigator, descried Friesland "rising like
pinnacles of steeples and all covered with snow;" and entered, with his
two small barks, the strait which bears his name.
1628. WILLIAM DANIEL died; a famed Greek and Hebrew scholar, translator
of the New Testament and liturgy into Irish.
1708. Battle of Oudenarde, in Belgium, between the French and the allied
army under the duke of Marlborough and prince Eugene. The French were
defeated with the loss of 15,000; loss of the allies 5000.
1724. MARY MANLEY died; an English authoress, of considerable reputation
as a writer, but of a wanton and licentious character. She wrote
principally plays and romances.
1754. The Indians, who had been assembled to attend the congress of the
colonies at Albany, were dismissed apparently well pleased and had
engaged their coöperation with the colonies against the French. One of
the sachems chalked out a sketch of the interior forests, rivers and
lakes, with a clear discernment of their relations, and made the
judicious remark, that Louisburg was one key of the inland country, and
New York another, and that the power which had both, would open the
great chest, and have Indians and all.
1763. PETER FORSKAL died; a celebrated Swedish naturalist and oriental
traveler.
1764. ANDREW CANTWELL died; an Irish practitioner and writer on medicine
of considerable abilities.
1782. JOHN JAMES FLIPART, a French engraver of great merit, died.
1782. Savannah, Georgia, evacuated by the British, and taken possession
of by general Wayne.
1789. JAMES NECKER, the prime minister and great financier, ordered to
leave France.
1797. CHARLES MACKLIN, an Irish actor and dramatic writer, died, aged
107. His name was M'Laughlin, which he changed for one more euphonious.
His last performance was at the age of 90, when his memory failed him,
and he took leave of the audience forever. His comedies still keep the
stage.
1804. A duel fought between Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton, at
Hoboken, opposite New York. On the first fire Hamilton fell mortally
wounded, on the same spot where, a short time previous, his eldest son
had been killed in a duel. He lingered until the afternoon of the
following day, when he expired.
1807. MICHAEL NEKITITCH MINAVIEW, a Russian author of much distinction,
died. One of his most admired productions is _Oskold_, which describes
the march of the northern nations against Constantinople.
1809. Battle of Znaim; the French under Marmont, duke of Ragusa,
defeated the Austrians, took 2 standards, 3 cannon and 3000 prisoners.
1811. Earthquake at St. Michael's one of the Azores; an island was
formed where the water had been 30 fathoms in depth.
1812. United States frigate Essex captured a British transport with a
detachment of the first regiment of Royal Scots on board.
1813. Blackrock taken by the British, who burnt the barracks,
blockhouse, and other buildings, spiked several cannon, and took off a
quantity of provisions, leaving on the shore a part of their killed and
wounded.
1814. United States brig Rattlesnake captured by a British 50 gun ship.
The Rattlesnake had some time previous thrown overboard all her guns
except two, to escape another British man-of-war.
1814. The fort at Eastport, Moose island, mounting six 24 pounders,
commanded by major Putnam with about 80 men, surrendered to a large
British force. In consequence of this capture, the whole of the islands
in Passamaquoddy bay fell into the hands of the enemy.
1818. The use of the French language in judicial proceedings and by the
public authorities abolished in the Netherlands, only allowing advocates
to make use of it for a certain time.
1853. An earthquake destroyed the city of Teheran, the capital of
Persia, having a population of 60,000.
1853. SAMUEL APPLETON, one of the most opulent, benevolent and public
spirited citizens of Boston, died, aged 87. His charitable donations for
many years exceeded $25,000 per annum.