490 B. C. Battle of Marathon is said to have occurred at the full of the
moon on this Julian day. (See Aug. 6.)
351. Battle of Murza, on the Drave, in which the emperor Constantius
defeated Magnentius in a most desperate conflict.
855. LOTHAIRE I, emperor of Germany, died. He seized the person of his
father, and confined him in a monastery, and waged a bloody war with his
brother, during which 100,000 men fell in a single battle.
1014. Nearly the whole of Flanders was immersed by a storm.
1066. WILLIAM OF NORMANDY (_the Conqueror_) arrived at the coast of
England, on his memorable invasion.
1197. HENRY VI, emperor of Germany, died. He had the meanness to detain
Richard of England, who had been shipwrecked on the coast of Dalmatia.
With the large sum of money obtained for the ransom of his illustrious
captive he made war against Sicily, and plundered and desolated the
country.
1396. Battle of Nicopolis; the Turks under Bajazet achieved a famous
victory over the king of Hungary. The greater part of an army of
100,000 confederate Christians were slain, or driven into the Danube,
and Sigismund, escaping by the river and the Black sea, returned after a
long circuit to his exhausted kingdom. A _rout_ preserved Europe.
1567. JOHN STAININGER died at Braunau, in Austria; he was remarkable for
the length of his beard, which reached to the ground.
1582. GEORGE BUCHANAN, a learned Scottish historian, has his death
placed on this day by several authorities. (See Feb. 28.)
1616. JOSHUA SYLVESTER, an English poet, died.
1667. JAMES GOLIUS, an eminent Dutch orientalist, died. He traveled into
several countries, and published some learned works.
1670. The London royal exchange, having been rebuilt, was opened.
1687. The Venetians under Morosini bombarded Athens, when a bomb fired
the powder magazine kept by the Turks in the Parthenon. This noble
building, which had stood nearly 2000 years, and was then nearly
perfect, was by this calamity reduced to a ruin, and with it perished
the ever memorable remains of the genius of Phidias. In attempting to
remove the chariot of victory, which stood on the west pediment of the
Parthenon, it fell and was dashed to pieces. Though the ancient edifices
of the Greeks suffered much from the Turks, the siege of Morosini did
infinitely more damage to the Parthenon than it had sustained during the
2000 years of its existence. A fine basso relievo, supposed to belong to
the frieze of the building, has lately been discovered.
1708. The French defeated near Wynnendale, yet by means of 2000 horsemen
each with a bag of powder behind him, contrived to throw supplies into
Lisle.
1728. HENRY BROWN obtained a patent from the English government for an
improvement in the manufacture of cannon.
1742. HUGH BOULTER, primate of Ireland, died, leaving behind him an
enviable reputation. During the great scarcity of 1741 in Ireland, 2500
persons were daily supported at his expense.
1742. JOHN BAPTIST MASSILLON, a famous French ecclesiastic, died. His
name has almost become proverbial as a powerful master of eloquence.
(18th?)
1763. JOHN BYROM, an English poet, died. He was also famous as the
inventor of a system of short hand writing.
1768. The commissioners of the customs having solicited the presence of
a regular force in Boston, two British regiments, escorted by seven
armed vessels, arrived from Halifax and took up quarters in the town.
1776. CADWALLADER COLDEN, lieutenant-governor of New York under the
British dynasty, died, aged 88. He was a Scottish physician; his
publications were numerous in botany, medicine, history and philosophy.
1777. General WAYNE, with a detachment of 1500 men, on the left wing of
the British army, was surprised and defeated with a loss of about 300.
1778. A regiment of American cavalry stationed at Tappan on the Hudson
river, was surprised while sleeping, by the British under general Gray,
who rushed upon them with their bayonets, and giving them no quarter, 67
were killed, wounded and taken.
1779. The famed Houghton collection of pictures (lord Walpole's) was
purchased by the empress of Russia, and shipped for Petersburg.
1780. Americans under general Marion attacked a party of tories at Black
Mingo; several were killed and others taken.
1789. THOMAS DAY, an eminent English writer and eloquent speaker, killed
by a fall from his horse.
1791. The French ships Recherche and L'Esperance under admiral
D'Entrecasteaux and Hunon Kermadoc, sailed from Brest in search of La
Perouse. The expedition was extremely unfortunate, both commanders dying
on the voyage, and the ships and crews were seized by the Dutch governor
at Java.
1795. The British under general Stuart took Jaffnapatam in the East
Indies.
1803. RALPH GRIFFITHS, an English writer, died; known in the republic of
letters as the projector of the _Monthly Review_, begun 1749, and which
became so popular as to procure him a comfortable independence, upon
which he retired.
1839. WILLIAM DUNLAP, a portrait and historical painter, died at New
York, aged 74. He also wrote several valuable historical works, besides
biographies and dramas.
1842. Captain ENOCH PREBLE, a skillful seaman and eminent
philanthropist, died at Portland, Me.
1843. SHOBAL L. VAI CLEVENGER, an American sculptor of high reputation,
died at sea, aged 31.
1848. EDWARD R. TYLER, editor of the _New Englander_, died in New Haven,
Ct., aged 48. He was for many years engaged with ability and usefulness
as a congregational minister at Middletown and at Colebrook.
1850. The North Star, which was sent out from England in 1849, arrived
at Spithead on her return. She was imprisoned in the ice from Oct. 1,
1849 to Aug. 1, 1850.
1852. WILLIAM FINDEN, a celebrated English engraver, died at London of
heart disease, aged 66.
1853. A deputation from the protestant alliance waited upon lord
Clarendon to state the case of Miss Cunningham, arrested at Lucca for
distributing an Italian version of the _Bible_ and _Pilgrim's Progress_,
and to urge the government to procure her immediate liberation.
1853. The ship Annie Jane, from Liverpool, was driven on the Barra
island, one of the Hebrides, and of 450 passengers 348 were drowned.
1854. The United States sloop of war Albany, James T. Gerry, commander,
sailed from Aspinwall and was never more heard of.
1854. GEORGE FIELD, an English philosopher, died, aged 77; well known
for his success in the application of science to the arts.