64. The firing of Rome in the reign of Nero is placed by des Vignoles on
the 19th July; the day also on which it was sacked by the Senonian
Gauls. (See June 18.)
1203. Fall of Constantinople to the Venitian crusaders, when Isaac
Angelus, feeble and blind, was solemnly reseated, with his son Alexius,
upon the imperial throne.
1242. Battle of Taillebourg, upon the Charente, in France. The French
king, at the head of a vast and superior force, carried the bridge, and
the English under Henry, the royal palmer, after a desperate stand, gave
way, and were driven with rapidity to Saintes.
1333. EDWARD III defeated the Scots at Halidown with great slaughter,
which defeat was followed by the surrender of Berwick which Edward
annexed to England.
1374. FRANCESCO PETRARCA, the celebrated Italian poet, died, aged 70.
His talents and learning contributed greatly to the revival of
literature, and he has been justly styled the father of modern poetry.
1573. JOHN CAIUS, an English physician, died. He visited the most
learned institutions in Europe to improve himself in his profession, and
when he finally settled in London became extremely popular as a
practitioner. He endowed a college, which bears his name.
1610. The foundation of the famed and valuable Bodleian library was laid
at Oxford.
1629. Quebec capitulated to the English under Louis and Thomas Kerth.
This was 130 years before its final conquest by Wolfe.
1693. Battle of Landon in which the confederates were defeated by the
French with great slaughter.
1701. The confederated tribes of Indians surrendered to the English, at
Albany, their beaver hunting country, lying between lakes Ontario and
Erie, to be by them defended for the said confederated Indians, their
heirs and successors forever.
1743. WILLIAM SOMERVILLE, an English poet, died. On the completion of
his education he settled on his paternal estate, became known as a
magistrate and a country gentleman, and devoted his leisure to the
muses.
1763. NATHANIEL HOOKE, an English historian, died. He is little known,
except by his _History of Rome_, 4 volumes 4to.
1777. Logan's fort, Kentucky, besieged by 200 Indians. The garrison
consisting of 16 men, who repelled the savages.
1779. Battle of Paulus Hook; the British garrison surprised and made
prisoners by the Americans under general Lee. The commandant of the fort
and a few Hessians escaped; 30 were killed and 161 taken. American loss
6 killed or wounded.
1783. JOB ORTON, an excellent English dissenting divine, died; author of
many valuable works, among which is a life of Dr. Doddridge.
1794. A revolution commenced at Geneva in Switzerland, headed by two
commissioners of the French revolution residing there.
1806. Action off Feroe islands, between British frigate Blanche and
French frigate Guerrier, 50 guns, 317 men. The latter was captured in 45
minutes, with the loss of 26 killed, 30 wounded; British loss, 4
wounded. The Guerrier was taken from the British by captain Hull, in
1812.
1808. Battle of Baylen, in Spain; the French under Dupont defeated by
the Spaniards. Dupont and 2,600 fell, after a desperate action from 3
o'clock in the morning till noon, when the French sued for terms. A
convention was agreed upon, by which they were to lay down their arms,
and be conveyed to France; accordingly 14,000 soldiers defiled before
the Spanish army, laid down their arms, and all their military
accoutrements, and were conducted to Cadiz. The officers were sent home,
but the soldiers were placed in hulks, where they remained some years;
until the few that survived the miseries of their confinement, driven to
despair, cut the cables of their prison-ships, drifted out of the
harbor, and were saved by their countrymen then besieging Cadiz.
1810. The king of Prussia issued a decree forbidding American vessels to
enter his ports.
1812. Battle at the bridge Aux Canards. 150 volunteers under colonel
M'Arthur while reconnoitering fell into an ambush and were fired upon by
a party of Indians under Tecumseh. The Indians were routed.
1812. United States brig Nautilus, 12 guns, captured by a squadron of
British frigates.
1814. Action off Sandy hook, between the United States privateer Gen.
Armstrong and British sloop Henrietta; the latter was captured, laden
with stores for the fleet in Chesapeake bay.
1814. MATTHEW FLINDERS, an English navigator, died. He explored a part
of the coast of New Holland; but lost his ship in that enterprise, and
on his return home was held a captive in the isle of France 6 years, and
deprived of his papers.
1824. AUGUSTIN ITURBIDE, emperor of Mexico, shot. He entered the army at
a very early age. In 1820 he took up arms for the cause of freedom, and
led his army on to a series of splendid victories. He became suddenly
popular, and was raised to the throne; but was as suddenly deposed and
banished. His execution was occasioned by his return.
1836. LEFEBURE DE CHEVERUS, arch bishop of Bordeaux, died. He came to
America after the French revolution, and was consecrated first catholic
bishop of Boston, 1810. He was a man of distinguished talents, and
extensive scientific and literary acquirements. He returned to France at
the invitation of Louis XVIII.
1848. ROBERT SWARTWOUT died; quartermaster general in the war of 1812,
and afterwards known as a politician.
1849. HARMANUS BLEECKER, a prominent and universally respected citizen
of Albany, died, aged 70. He was minister for the United States at the
Hague for several years.
1849. GEORGE TIBBITS of Troy, well known in the councils and commerce of
the state of New York, died.
1849. The excavation for the passage of the double track of the Utica
and Schenectady rail way through the rock at Little Falls, Herkimer
county, New York, was completed. 30,000 yards of granite were taken out
and 1,600 kegs of powder consumed in the operation.
1853. The Danish parliament was prorogued, and a fundamental law issued,
by which the government became an absolute one.
1854. The insurrection at Madrid (see 17th) triumphed, and the Rivas
ministry resigned.
1855. JOSEPH L. FOLSOM, first collector of the customs at San Francisco,
died, aged 38. He was educated at West Point, and after serving in
Florida, went to California with a New York regiment in 1847. He was
reputed the richest man in California.
1857. A fire broke out in Taiefa, Portugal, which spread over an immense
district of agricultural country, consuming a vast quantity of standing
grain, country houses, barns, &c.