275. The emperor TACITUS elected, after an interregnum of eight months.
He ordered that ten copies of his kinsman's history should be placed in
the libraries. _The_ MS. was discovered in Westphalia.
1066. Battle of Stamford Bridge, between the English under Harold, and
the Norwegians under Hafalgar and Tostig. The latter were defeated, and
Hafalgar and Tostig slain. The Norwegian fleet also fell into the hands
of the English. Judith, the wife of Tostig, afterwards married Guelph I,
and became the lineal progenitor of the present royal family of England.
1154. King STEPHEN of England, died, and his adopted son Henry
Fitzempress reigned in his stead.
1493. COLUMBUS sailed from Cadiz with a fleet of seventeen ships, great
and small, well furnished with all the necessaries for the voyage, and
having on board 1,500 people, with horses, cattle, and implements to
establish plantations.
1506. PHILIP I of Spain, died. He obtained the crown by marriage with
Jane, the heiress of Ferdinand and Isabella, was a man of very moderate
abilities, but regarded as the fairest man of his age.
1513. NUNEZ DE BALBOA, the Spaniard, discovered the sea, over Darien,
and in his transport took corporal possession of the ocean in the name
of his master.
1555. The famous _recess_, or peace of religion, established at
Augsburg, the bond of union between the German states.
1586. The attainder of GERALD FITZGERALD, 16th earl of Desmond, and
forfeiture of 574,628 acres. His head was fixed on London bridge.
1600. ANTHONY DU VERDIER died; historiographer of France, and author of
a _Biography of French Authors_.
1602. GASPARD PEUCER, an eminent German physician and mathematician,
died. He was imprisoned ten years for his religious opinions, during
which he committed his thoughts on the margins of old books, with an ink
which he made of burnt crusts infused in wine.
1621. MARY SIDNEY, countess of Pembroke, an eminent poetess and patron
of literature, died.
1626. LANCELOT ANDREWS, bishop of Winchester, died; an eminent English
prelate.
1638. DE VRIES sailed from Holland on his third expedition to America,
with colonists, to settle Staten Island, which he had secured two years
before.
1666. SCHAH ABAS, king of Persia, died. He came to the throne at the age
of 13; was valiant and enlightened, and promised by deeds of benevolence
and liberality to rival the greatest heroes of antiquity, when he was
cut off at the age of 37. He died of _lues Veneris_.
1689. Count FRONTENAC arrived at Canada to reassume the government of
the province.
1732. MICHAEL ERNEST ETTMULLER died; a German professor of anatomy at
Leipsic, and author of several learned and curious treatises on medical
subjects.
1758. ROBERT CLAYTON, a learned English prelate and antiquary, died.
1764. ROBERT DODSLEY, an eminent English bookseller and author, died. He
commenced life as a footman, but his natural abilities brought him into
notice, and recommended him to assistance.
1765. RICHARD POCOCKE, bishop of Meath, died; a celebrated traveler, and
author of the _Description of the East_, with observations on Palestine.
1777. JOHN HENRY LAMBERT, a German mathematician, died. He was the son
of a poor tailor, but became one of the most learned men of his time by
his own unaided exertions.
1777. The American colonel, Ethan Allen, captured near Montreal by the
British. He had 15 men killed, and surrendered 38, of whom 7 were put to
death.
1786. EDWARD IVES, a celebrated English traveler, died. The account
which he published of his travels through Europe and Asia contains much
information.
1791. WILLIAM BRADFORD died; an eminent printer of Philadelphia, and an
officer in the revolutionary war.
1792. JAMES CAZOTTE, mayor of Pierry, in France, guillotined. He had
previously been saved from the mob by the heroic conduct of his
daughter, a girl of 17, who shared his misfortunes.
1804. JOSEPH WILLARD, president of Harvard college, died; whose
attainments in Greek learning have been equaled by few in America.
1806. BONAPARTE left Paris, to open the campaign against Prussia.
1806. Action between the British squadron, admiral Hood, and a French
squadron. Several French frigates were captured; Hood lost his right
arm.
1808. RICHARD PORSON, an eminent English professor, died. He possessed
great reputation as a Greek scholar and critic, and yet his learning
scarcely produced him a living.
1814. The pope issued a bull prohibiting all secret societies,
particularly those of freemasons.
1815. JOHN SINGLETON COPLEY, a distinguished American painter, died in
London.
1815. First daily paper printed at Albany, N. Y.
1839. Treaty between France and Texas signed at Paris.
1840. Marshal MCDONALD, one of Bonaparte's distinguished generals, died
at his chateau near Guise, in France. He was a kinsman of the celebrated
Flora McDonald who was instrumental in aiding the escape of the
pretender from the Isle of Skye.
1842. RICHARD COLLEY WELLESLY, marquis of Wellesly, and eldest son of
the earl of Mornington, died, aged 82.
1854. WILLIAM HENRY PARTLETT, an English artist, died at sea, aged 44;
author of _Views in Switzerland_, and other similar works of merit.
1855. JOHN GIFFORD, a British admiral, died at Southampton, aged 90. He
had been in the service more than 75 years, was present at the relief of
Gibraltar in 1781, and distinguished himself in many important
engagements.