284. MARCUS AURELIUS NUMERIANUS, the Roman emperor, died, or was
assassinated. He was admired for his learning and moderation, was
naturally eloquent, and was esteemed one of the best poets of the age.
1362. INNOCENT VI (_Stephen Albert_), pope, died. He was of a peaceful
disposition, and labored earnestly to reconcile the kings of England and
France.
1382. LOUIS I, king of Hungary and Poland, died. One of his acts was to
expel the Jews.
1504. COLUMBUS sailed from San Domingo--that great man's last voyage.
His crazy and shattered bark, like his body, landed at St. Lucar in
November.
1528. ANDREW DORIA, a noble Genoese, and the ablest seaman of his age,
retook Genoa from the French, and restored its independence.
1553. ALBERT, of Brandenburgh, defeated by Henry of Brunswick. He was
placed under the ban of the empire, and fled to France, where he died.
1609. HUDSON weighed anchor in the harbor of New York, and commenced
his memorable voyage up the river which bears his name.
1651. The Scots prisoners taken at the battle of Worcester, &c., brought
before Cromwell and the parliament at Acton, and sold to the West Indies
for slaves or given away as dogs.
1660. JAMES CATS, a Dutch statesman and poet died, aged 83. His poems
are much admired by his countrymen.
1665. JOHN BOLLANDUS, a Flemish Jesuit, died. His judgment, learning and
sagacity led to his appointment to collect materials for the lives of
the saints of the Romish church. He lived to complete 5 vols. folio, and
the work was continued to 47 vols. by his successors.
1672. TANNEGUI LE FEVRE, a learned French author, died. He was the
father of Madam Dacier.
1683. The allies under John Sobieski and the duke of Lorraine, routed
the vast Turkish army under the walls of Vienna, and compelled them to
raise the siege. Sobieski sent a post to his queen, saying that the
grand vizier had made him his sole heir, including 70,000 dead men.
1683. ALPHONSO VI, king of Portugal, died. His conduct displayed the
tyrant and the madman, and he resigned his crown.
1703. The emperor and king of the Romans, resigned their right to Spain
to the archduke Charles, who was thereupon declared king of Spain.
1714. Barcelona surrendered to the duke of Berwick.
1729. Birthday of MOSES MENDELSOHN, a learned Jew of Berlin. He was of
obscure origin, and became a merchant; but quitted commerce for
literature, and acquired great reputation.
1764. JOHN PHILIP RAMEAU, a French musician, died. His writings on music
procured him the title of the Newton of the science.
1776. WASHINGTON, with the remains of his army, entered Philadelphia,
after his disastrous defeat at Brandywine. The same night a party of the
British made an excursion to Wilmington, took the governor of Delaware
out of his bed, and captured a shallop richly laden with public and
private property, and the public records.
1784. The Spanish fleet under Don Barcelo, bombarded Algiers. The
Spaniards fired 600 bombs, 144 balls and 260 grenades. The Algerines
fired 202 bombs, and 1,164 balls. Great damage was done to the city.
1804. The American squadron captured near Tripoli, two vessels laden
with wheat for that city.
1806. EDWARD THURLOW, an eminent English nobleman, died. He possessed a
vigorous and active mind, added to close application, which gave him a
high rank among the professional men of that day.
1812. Fort Wayne relieved by the troops under general Harrison. The
Indians raised the siege with great precipitation.
1813. EDMUND RANDOLPH died; whose history is blended with that of his
country.
1814. Battle of fort McHenry, near Baltimore. The British, 8,000 men,
under general Ross, were arrested in their march upon Baltimore, and
general Ross was killed. The fort was bombarded incessantly 25 hours.
Total American loss in killed and wounded 173; British official loss
290.
1819. GEBBARAL LEBRECHT, prince von Blucher, a celebrated Prussian
field-marshal, died. He had been 45 years in the army, and for his
celerity in the field, was called _Marshal Forwards_.
1820. FRANCIS CHRISTOPHER KELLERMAN, a French marshal, died. He entered
the army at the age of 17 as a huzzar, and rose to the highest honors
under Napoleon.
1829. Surrender of the Spanish army at Tampico, under general Barradas,
to the Mexicans under Santa Anna. The Spaniards were to transport
themselves to Havana, and pledged not to serve against Mexico in future.
This terminated the expedition to subdue Mexico after five engagements.
1832. PRISCILLA WAKEFIELD, an English authoress, died, aged 82. She
wrote many popular and useful works for children and youth, and promoted
the institution of savings banks.
1838. HENRY RYALLS died at Darien, Ga., aged 110. He was a soldier of
the revolution, and retained his faculties to the last.
1847. First day's battle of Chapultepec.
1849. MARIANO PAREDES, ex-president of Mexico, died in that city, after
a long and painful illness.
1850. The fugitive slave bill passed by the house of representatives at
Washington, as it had come down from the senate.
1854. DAVID LANSBOROUGH, a Scottish divine, died at Ayrshire, aged 73.
He was distinguished as a naturalist, and contributed much to the
knowledge of fossils, botany and shells.
1857. Steamship Central America, from Panama to New York, having 626
persons on board, and nearly two millions in treasure, was totally lost
in a gale, and about 100 persons were saved.