929. CHARLES III (_the Simple_), of France, died. His abilities were
unequal to his station; he was defeated in battle by Hugh, and confined
seven years in prison, in the castle of Peronne, where he died.
1492. The ship Nina, rigged with latteen sails and usually ahead of the
others, supposing she had discovered land, hoisted her flag and fired a
Lombardo. This was soon found to be an illusion; the insubordination
broke forth among the crews, when Columbus, with the two Pinzons,
commanders, was compelled to enter into an _agreement_ with those
murmurers, to return in case land was not discovered in three days.
1521. Date of king Henry VIII's diploma from the pope as Defender of the
Faith, for his treatise _De Septem Sacramentis_.
1565. THOMAS CHALONER, a noted English ambassador, died. He wrote a work
on _The right ordering of the English Republic_, and has the honor of
having discovered the first alum mines in England.
1571. Battle of Lepanto, a naval action between the Turks, and Venitians
assisted by the Germans and Spaniards under Don John of Austria. The
Turks were utterly defeated with the loss of 25,000 killed, 10,000
taken, and all their great commanders slain, and 200 galleys taken or
destroyed. The Christians lost about 10,000 men. This was the greatest
sea fight of modern times, and being the first signal victory achieved
over the Turks, diffused the greatest joy over Christendom.
1577. GEORGE GASCOINE, a celebrated English poet in the time of
Elizabeth, died. He served with credit in the wars of the Low Countries;
and wrote the first English comedy in prose.
1612. GIOVANNI BATTISTA GUARINI, a celebrated Italian poet, died. The
_Pastor Fido_ has immortalized his name.
1651. JAMES SIRMOND died; a French Jesuit and a voluminous theological
writer.
1681. NICHOLAS HEINSIUS (_the Swan of Holland_), died. He was eminent as
a statesman, poet and critic.
1708. Battle near Lesno, between 40,000 Russians under Peter the great,
and 16,000 Swedes under Lewenhaupt, who was marching with men and
supplies to relieve Charles XII. He was defeated after five engagements,
which were fought in three days, and reached Charles with only 5,000
men. The Russians took 5,000 carriages, and much of the artillery and
baggage.
1753. Sir DANVERS OSBORN arrived at New York from England, to supersede
Clinton as governor of the province. (See Oct. 12.)
1759. JOSEPH AMES, a celebrated typographical historian, died. He was
originally a ship chandler, who late in life took to the study of
antiquities, and became secretary of the society of antiquaries.
1763. The king of France, viewing the extensive and valuable
acquisitions in America secured by the treaty with Great Britain,
granted letters patent under the great seal, to erect within the
countries and islands ceded to him, four distinct and separate
governments, namely, Quebec, East Florida, West Florida, and Granada.
1765. First congress of American colonies met at New York.
1777. Second battle of Stillwater, which was an attempt of the British
to secure a retreat to the lakes. Darkness put an end to the action,
after the Americans had gained decisive advantages. A great number of
the enemy were killed; 200 taken, including several officers of
distinction; 9 cannons and the encampment of a German brigade, with all
their equipage. The loss of the Americans was inconsiderable. British
general Frazer and lieutenant-colonel Breyman were killed.
1780. Battle of King's mountain, South Carolina, in which 300 British
were killed and wounded, and 800 prisoners, and 1500 stand of excellent
arms taken. Maj. Ferguson, who commanded the British, was killed,
gallantly defending his post.
1787. HENRY MELCHIOR MUEHLENBERG died; pastor of the first Lutheran
church in Pennsylvania, and distinguished for his learning.
1788. JOHN BROWN, an English physician, died; known as the founder of
the Brunonian system of medicine, which classes all diseases under two
heads, those of deficient and those of redundant excitement.
1792. GEORGE MASON, a distinguished Virginia statesman, died at his
domain of Gunston hall.
1794. ANTOINE JOSEPH GORSAS, a Girondist, guillotined at Paris. He was a
school master, a man of letters, and the editor of a paper, through
which he became one of the first instigators of the revolution, and
actively promoted some of its important events.
1794. Bois-le-duc, one of the strongest bulwarks of the famous Dutch
barrier along the left bank of the Meuse, surrendered to the French
revolutionary army; by which several other fortresses were hemmed in and
rendered useless.
1795. JOHN GEORGE ZIMMERMAN, a Swiss philosopher, died at Hanover, where
he was first physician to his Brittanic majesty. His work on _Solitude_
is a popular book in our own language.
1796. THOMAS REID, professor of moral philosophy at Glasgow, died, aged
89; highly distinguished as a mathematician and metaphysician.
1807. BONAPARTE called for a second conscription of 80,000 men for this
year.
1810. Coimbra in Portugal, held by the French, was attacked by the
British under colonel Trant and carried. Trant took 80 officers and
5,000 men prisoners, mostly sick and wounded.
1812. Battle of the Moskwa. The French army of 150,000 under Napoleon
was opposed by a Russian army of about the same number, under Kutusoff.
The attack began early in the morning and continued until late in the
afternoon, when the Russian army retreated, no pursuit being made by the
French; while the field of battle was strewed with 50,000 dead and
dying. The Russians acknowledged a loss of 25,000, among whom was
Bagration.
1840. WILLIAM I, king of the Netherlands, published a proclamation
announcing his voluntary abdication of the throne in favor of his son
William II. He is said to have retired with a private fortune of nearly
forty-three millions of dollars, and abdicated in consequence of his
determination to marry the countess d'Oultremont, a lady of the Roman
catholic faith.
1841. FREDERICK JOHN, lord Monson, died, aged 32; a patron and amateur
of art, a lover of literature and science, and a truly benevolent and
public spirited man. A journal of his _Tour in Germany_ was privately
printed in 1839, and some beautiful views of the passes of the Tyrol
were drawn on stone from his sketches.
1841. Revolutionary movement in Spain in favor of Christina and absolute
government. By the prompt movement of the regent Espartero the
insurrection was entirely quelled, and general Diego Leon was executed.
1849. EDGAR A. POE, favorably known as an American poet and magazine
writer, died at Baltimore, aged 37.
1849. LOUIS BATTHYANYI, prime minister of Hungary, was shot at Pesth, at
the sole urgency of general Haynau.
1850. Disunion meetings were held at Natchez and Yazoo city, at both of
which the disorganizing resolutions were opposed and voted down.
1854. CALEB BUTLER died, aged 78; principally known by his history of
the town of Groton, Mass.