972. JOHN XIII, pope, died. He was elected by the power of the emperor,
against the wishes of the Roman people. A violent dissention was the
consequence, and the new pontiff was banished the next year by the
prefect of Rome; he was reinstated by the emperor, and his opponent in
turn sent into exile.
1492. COLUMBUS sailed from the Canaries, where he had been detained
since the 12th of August, in refitting for the voyage.
1521. JOHN SEBASTIAN DEL CANO, having on the death of Magellan, been
appointed captain of the Spanish expedition for the discovery of a
western passage to the Molucca or Spice islands, conducted the remainder
of the voyage, which was finished this day. This was the first voyage
round the world. It sailed August 10th, 1519, from Seville, and
consisted of five ships and 236 men. Only one ship of this squadron ever
reached Spain. (8th?)
1578. DRAKE having passed the straits of Magellan, entered the Pacific
ocean, on his memorable campaign against the Spanish treasure ships.
1581. WILLIAM POSTEL, a French mathematician, died. He possessed great
learning, but was a visionary. His works are twenty-six in number, on
curious and strange subjects.
1609. HUDSON having anchored at Sandy Hook, sent forward five men in a
boat, who passed through the Narrows, sounding as they went. They were
attacked by two Indian canoes, and John Colman, an Englishman, who had
accompanied Hudson in his polar voyages, was killed. This was the first
European blood that was shed in these waters. The place where he was
interred is still called Colman's point.
1620. The Mayflower, with its company, consisting of 101 passengers,
sailed from Plymouth, England, for America; having been obliged to put
back twice, on account of the leaky condition of the Speedwell, which
was to sail with her. This was the company of Pilgrims which landed at
Plymouth rock, and commenced the settlement of New England.
1645. A general thanksgiving was ordained by governor Kieft, to be
observed through the limits of New Netherland, for the restoration of
peace with the Indians; showing that this festival, which is by many
asserted to be exclusively puritanical, was also observed by the Dutch
occasionally.
1652. PHILIP ALEGAMBE died; a Dutch Jesuit whose works were in high
estimation.
1676. The Massachusetts forces, having subdued Philip, turned their arms
against the eastern Indians, and surprised about 400 of them at Cocheco,
in Maine, who were all taken; those found accessory to the late
rebellion, being about half the number, were sold into slavery, and
several who had committed murders were hung.
1678. TONGE and OATES furnished a narrative of a plot to overturn the
English government.
1683. JOHN BAPTIST COLBERT, marquis of Segnelia, died. He was an
illustrious French statesman, deservedly respected as a minister who
ably restored the navy, the commerce and finances of the country,
patronized learning and science, and invigorated genius by his mild and
active generosity.
1689. Mentz, in Germany, surrendered to the imperialists.
1748. EDMUND GIBSON, bishop of London, died; an eminent antiquarian,
theological, political and controversial writer.
1769. Great jubilee at Stratford, England, in honor of Shakspeare. The
pageant continued three days, and attracted much attention.
1775. JOHN BAPTIST BULLET, a French author, died. He possessed a most
retentive memory, and his works are learned and useful.
1781. Fort Griswold taken by the British under Arnold, and the garrison
put to the sword. Colonel Ledyard, who commanded the fort, was run
through the body with his own sword, after he had surrendered. Of the
garrison, 73 were killed, 30 or 40 wounded, and 40 taken prisoners.
British loss 48 killed, and 142 wounded.
1781. New London was set on fire, 60 dwellings and 84 stores burnt.
1781. American privateer, Congress, captured British sloop of war
Savage, 20 guns.
1783. ANNA WILLIAMS, a blind English authoress, died, aged 77.
1784. GEORGE ALEXANDER STEVENS, an English writer, died. He possessed
the rare faculty of entertaining an audience four hours at a sitting.
By his lectures on heads he realized about 50,000 dollars; but died
finally in a mad house.
1796. WILLIAM BENWELL, an elegant English scholar, died.
1808. LOUIS PIERRE ANQUETIL DU PERRON, a French divine and historian,
died. He traveled in Asia, where he acquired the language of the ancient
Persians, and became acquainted with the original writings of Zoroaster,
and brought home a large amount of literary spoil.
1810. Battle of Rudschuck; the Russians defeated the Turks, killed the
seraskir and 5,000 men, and took an immense number of prisoners, with
all their artillery and equipage.
1813. WILLIAM BURROWS, a gallant naval officer of the United States, was
slain in the action between the Enterprise, United States, and British
ship Boxer. (See 5th.)
1814. British under general Provost took Plattsburgh.
1816. THOMAS CLARKE died in London, aged 80. He came to the city at the
age of 22, and obtained the place of a porter; by the strictest economy
and well directed effort, he accumulated the fortune of one and a half
million dollars.
1821. VICESSIMUS KNOX died; a learned English divine and miscellaneous
writer.
1839. An insurrection at Zurich, in Switzerland, in consequence of the
city government having enacted a new law, enforcing a system of
government, independent of the clergy, and differed from the routine of
the old catechism, and having called from Germany to fill the
theological chair of the university, professor Strauss, whose neological
doctrines had given much offence. Several thousand peasants assembled
and marched into the city headed by their pastors. A few lives were
lost, the government declared itself dissolved, the peasants withdrew,
and the city became tranquil.
1848. The British forces under general Whish, besieged the city of
Moulton, in northern India, and were forced on the 14th to withdraw with
much loss.
1848. THOMAS TRENOR, an Irish exile, died in New York, aged 86. In 1798
he was a merchant in extensive business, joined the patriots, and became
treasurer of the United Irish society. He was arrested for treason, and
spent four years in prison. Ruined in fortune, and with impaired health,
he came to America; for 17 years was occupied in the iron manufacture in
Vermont, and for the last 15 years was employed in the New York custom
house.
1855. Colonel HENRY L. KINNEY was appointed by acclamation civil and
military governor of San Juan del Norte, or Greytown, at a mass meeting
of the citizens.