1401. The city of Bagdad sacked by the Tartars under Tamerlane (_Timour
the Lame_,) who erected on her ruins a pyramid of 90,000 heads.
1531. Treaty of Nuremberg between Charles V and the reformers, and soon
after solemnly ratified by the diet of Ratisbon.
1562. GŒTZ VON BERLICHINGEN (_with the iron hand_), a bold, restless
and warlike German knight, died. He placed himself at the head of the
rebellious peasantry in the war which they waged against their
oppressors, but was soon taken prisoner.
1584. ELIZABETH RUSSEL died; an English lady, distinguished for a well
cultivated mind and a taste for literature.
1584. JOHN DAY, an eminent English printer, died. He was the first who
printed in Greek and Saxon characters in England, and is deserving of
remembrance for his enterprise in the publication of many extensive
works, the effect of which was to facilitate the progress of the
reformation.
1588. Date of the oldest preserved newspaper in England, the _English
Mercurie_, by queen Elizabeth. It had been printed at intervals before,
as this was the fiftieth number, and is still preserved in the British
museum. It is printed in the Roman character. (May 28.)
1602. The _lacteals_ discovered by Caspar Asselli, while dissecting a
dog. The discovery was accidental.
1627. ROBERT SHIRLEY, a native of England, died in Persia. He made a
visit to Persia, and was induced to settle there; became a favorite with
the emperor, who gave him his niece in marriage, and sent him as his
ambassador to Poland and England.
1637. The _cuttie_ stool thrown by a woman at the head of the bishop, in
St. Giles's church, Edinburgh.
1691. HENRY SLOUGHTER, governor of the province of New York, died, after
a short, weak and turbulent administration, and was buried in
Stuyvesant's vault, next to the old Dutch governor.
1692. GILES MENAGE, a learned French author, died. He acquired the title
of the Varro of his time, and became so popular that Mazarin even was
jealous of him. He left numerous valuable works.
1712. ACHILLE DE HARLEY died; first president of the parliament of
Paris, and an upright magistrate.
1741. Battle of Williamstadt, in Sweden, between the Russians and
Swedes.
1752. ALEXANDER POLITI, an Italian professor of great learning, died at
Pisa. He published an edition of Eustathius's _Commentary on Homer_,
with a Latin translation, and notes, 5 vols. folio; a labor of great
value.
1757. Zittau, in Saxony, bombarded, taken and destroyed by the
Austrians; the inhabitants, as well as the Prussian troops who defended
it were put to the sword.
1758. Battle of Sangershausen; the Hessians defeated by the French under
Soubise; who, although victorious, lost 2,000 men.
1765. In Lapland, 120 reindeer were struck dead by lightning.
1773. GEORGE EDWARDS, styled the father of ornithologists, died, aged
81. He was apprenticed to a trade, but as soon as his indentures expired
he began to travel, and extended his researches into various countries
of Europe. The first volume of his work appeared in 1743, and the whole
was completed in 1764, in 7 vols. 4to, containing engravings and
descriptions of upwards of 600 subjects in natural history never before
delineated.
1779. The Minisink settlements in Orange co., N. Y., attacked by the
Indians under Brant, by whom it was also plundered and burnt, and the
inhabitants either killed or carried away.
1780. Battle in North Carolina, between 300 militia under colonel Lock,
and the British and tories under Moore. The latter proposed a cessation
of hostilities for one hour, which being agreed to, he decamped with his
party.
1785. The Germanic union concluded; the last act of importance of the
life of Frederick II.
1793. ROGER SHERMAN, one of the signers, died.
1794. ALEXANDER BEAUHARNAIS, a French general, guillotined. He served in
the American war under Rochambeau, was some time president of the
national assembly of France, afterwards commanded the army of the Rhine,
and in 1793 was minister of war. He was condemned on a false accusation,
and perished at the age of 34. His widow, Josephine, was the first wife
of Bonaparte.
1800. JOHN FRANCIS VAUVILLIERS, a learned Greek scholar, died. He was
for 20 years professor of Greek at Paris, but finally driven out by the
revolution, and invited to St. Petersburg by the emperor, where he died.
1816. ELIZABETH HAMILTON died; an English lady of great talents and
acquirements, who left several excellent works on various subjects.
1816. The Enterprise arrived at Charleston from Savannah; being the
first steam boat ever seen in that city it excited a great deal of
curiosity.
1832. Battle near Coimbra, Portugal, between the forces of Don Pedro,
8,000 men, and those of Don Miguel, 12,500, in which the latter were
defeated.
1836. HUGH SHAW died, aged 113.
1838. FREDERICK CUVIER, the well known French naturalist, died at
Strasburg.
1855. JOSEPH C. HART, American consul, died at Santa Cruz, Canary
islands. He was a man of literary taste and an author.
1855. The insurgent Mexicans under general Vidauri, at Saltillo,
defeated the government forces under generals Cruz and Guitian, and
drove them from the city.