606 B. C. The memory of the book of Jeremiah torn and burnt by king
Jehoiakim, was observed as a fast, on the 6th of the Hebrew month
_Caslew_.
63 B. C. CATALINE assembled the conspirators on the evening of this day,
to fire the capital and cut off the principal citizens and the senate.
644. OMAR I, the second caliph after Mahomet, assassinated. His reign
was signalized by many important events. The most extraordinary success
attended the arms of the new religion; 36,000 towns and villages were
conquered; the Alexandrian library and 4,000 Christian temples were
destroyed; 400 mosques were built, and the ancient canal between the
Nile and the Red sea was restored.
1406. Pope INNOCENT VII died.
1457. GUTENBERG ceded to Faust all the moulds, types, presses and
utensils of the office, as surety for the sums advanced by the latter to
carry on the business of printing and experimenting. The partnership was
dissolved, and Gutenberg, with the assistance of Conrad Humery, opened
another office in the same city.
1460. JOHN FASTOLFF, a brave English general, died, aged 80. Shakspeare
has abused the character of this brave, generous and wealthy man, under
the name of Falstaff. It is impossible for two characters to be more at
variance than the real and fictitious Falstaff.
1620. RICHARD CAREW, an English antiquary, died. His memory is
extravagantly lauded, as another Livy, &c.
1622. King JAMES issued "a proclamation, prohibiting interloping and
disorderly trading to New England, in America." This remarkable edict
was intended to protect the trade of the colony, but so far from proving
beneficial to the company, really brought on its dissolution.
1632. Battle of Lutzen, and death of GUSTAVUS ADOLPHUS. The imperial
troops, 40,000 men, under Wallenstein, were defeated by the Swedes,
27,000, under Gustavus. The famous general Papenheim was mortally
wounded.
1644. THOMAS ROE, an English statesman, died. During his residence at
the court of Constantinople, he made a valuable collection of
manuscripts, which were presented to the Bodleian library.
1656. JOHN IV (_the Fortunate_), of Portugal, died. He undertook the
emancipation of his country from the Spanish yoke, in which he was
successful and was placed upon the throne.
1656. JOHN BAPTIST MORIN, a celebrated French physician, died. He
acquired great reputation as an astrologer, and consulted the stars for
Richelieu and Mazarin.
1714. CHARLES DAVENANT, an English writer, died. Besides his works on
political economy, his tragedy was received with great applause.
1769. CLAUDE SIMEON PASSEMANT died. He was brought up to a trade in
Paris, which he quitted for higher pursuits. Among his ingenious labors,
are mentioned an astronomical pendulum with a moving celestial sphere, a
burning mirror, and some globes.
1790. JAMES BOWDOIN, governor of Massachusetts, died. He was constantly
employed in the public service on the side of his country, and was
honored at home and abroad for his literary acquirements.
1792. Battle of Gemappe, in which the French revolutionists under
Dumourier, after a bloody action, gained a decisive victory over the
Austrians; and a short time after every town in the Netherlands except
Luxemburg was in the hands of the French.
1793. LOUIS JOSEPH PHILIP, duke of Orleans, guillotined at Paris. His
character and morals were infamous. He gave his vote for the death of
the king, an act which shocked even the most abandoned of his friends.
1806. Battle of Lubec; the French under Bernadotte and Soult carried the
town by assault. Blucher retreated with the loss of 5,500 prisoners,
5,000 killed and wounded, and 300 wagons.
1813. The American army under general Wilkinson disembarked the whole
of the troops and passed Prescott. A heavy cannonade was opened by the
British on the flotilla of 300 boats, not one of which was touched,
however.
1832. Grand festival in Sweden in honor of Gustavus Adolphus, it being
the 200th anniversary of the battle of Lutzen.
1839. WILLIAM B. CONWAY, secretary of Iowa territory, died; well known
as a poet, and a man of literary talent and taste.
1840. THOMAS PRINCE, a colored man, died in New York, aged 111. He is
said to have been "as quick as a man in the prime of life;" he died
suddenly, without sickness.
1842. WILLIAM HONE, the well known author of the _Every Day Book_, died
at Tottenham, England. His political satires gave him some distinction.
1852. DANIEL DRAKE, an eminent physician, of Cincinnati, died, aged 67.
He published a work on the _Diseases of the Valley of North America_,
and earned the reputation of a man of high talent, unsparing labor and
prodigal research.
1853. The first presbyterian Chinese church organized at San Francisco.