53 B. C. MARCUS LICINIUS CRASSUS, one of the triumvirs with Cæsar and
Pompey, killed at Haran in Syria. He was surnamed _Dives_, the rich, on
account of his vast fortune. He once gave an entertainment to the whole
people, in which 10,000 tables were set, and besides distributed corn
enough to last each family three months. He perished, with a great part
of his army, in an expedition against the Parthians, undertaken from
motives of avarice and ambition.
533. The famous institutes, or system of elementary law, were completed
by the delegates of Justinian. They were divided into four books,
proceeding methodically, from 1, _persons_ to 2, _things_; and from
things to 3, _actions_, and 4, _private wrongs_, terminated, as in
Blackstone, by the principles of _criminal_ law.
1555. GEORGE AGRICOLA died; a physician of Glaucen, in Misnia, known for
his learning and works on minerals.
1579. THOMAS GRESHAM, an eminent London merchant, died. His knowledge of
commerce was considered complete, and he acquired a great fortune. He
transacted the queen's commercial affairs, and his house was sometimes
appointed for the reception of foreign princes. The first royal exchange
was planned and executed by his munificence.
1616. RICHARD FIELD died; an English divine, eminent for his learning,
benevolence and piety.
1638. A general assembly of the Scottish church met at Glasgow. It is
said that not a few of the 260 commissioners of whom it was composed
could neither read nor write.
1640. JOHN, duke of Braganza, proclaimed king of Portugal. He recovered
the independence of that kingdom, which had been annexed to Spain by
Philip II in 1580.
1692. THOMAS SHADWELL died; an English dramatic writer, historiographer
and poet laureate.
1695. HENRY PURCELL died; a very eminent English musician and composer.
1736. Battle of Porto Bello. A squadron was fitted out in England for
the purpose of destroying the Spanish settlements in the West Indies,
and placed under admiral Vernon. The attack was made on Porto Bello by
the English, and after a furious engagement on both sides, the town
surrendered.
1763. Public notice given in London that East and West Florida should be
laid out into townships, and granted to those who would actually settle
there.
1775. JOHN HILL, an English apothecary and writer, died. He published a
system of botany, and was engaged in a great number of literary labors
at the same time. He was also famous for several medicines which he
prepared.
1777. Congress recalled Silas Deane from Paris, and appointed John Adams
to succeed him.
1780. At the bank of England 471,000 three per cent stock was
transferred to Mr. Van Otten on account of the landgrave of Hesse, so
much being due on Hessian soldiers lost in the American war, at 30_l._
per man. The number of men lost was 15,700.
1781. JEAN FREDERICK PHELLIPEAUX DE MAUREPAS died; a French statesman,
eminent for his genius, activity and profound sagacity.
1782. JAMES DE VAUCANSON, a celebrated mechanician, died. He constructed
with wonderful ingenuity various automata, and improved and simplified
the machinery of silk mills, and advanced the interests of commerce and
science by many other curious and useful inventions.
1783. The marquis D'ARLANDES and PILATRE ROSIER made an aerial voyage in
a machine called a _Montgolfier_, in honor of the inventors, it being
the first balloon raised by rarefied air.
1803. JOHN BUCKLER (_Schinderhannes_), the famous German robber,
executed, with 19 of his band. He was the son of indigent parents, and
entered into the service of an executioner. His first crime was a petty
theft, which grew into the most extensive and expert robberies. He never
committed murder, and expected pardon on that account, to the last
moment.
1806. BONAPARTE'S famous Berlin decree, declaring the British ports in a
state of blockade.
1807. ABRAHAM NEWLAND died at Highburg, in England; he was 60 years
cashier of the bank of England.
1812. Battle of Borisoff; the French and Poles defeated by the Russians
with great loss.
1812. Fort Niagara bombarded by the British from fort George and five
other batteries. Above 2000 red hot shot and 180 shells were fired;
which was returned with so much spirit, that the British had the worst
of the battle. American loss 4 killed, 7 wounded.
1832. The emperor of Russia issued orders for the transportation of 5000
families of Polish gentlemen from the province of Podolia to the
Steppes, on the line of the Caucasus. The university of Warsaw was
abolished, except the faculties of divinity and medicine, and the
library and collection of medals transported to St. Petersburg.
1832. Battle of Konich, between 75,000 Turks and 40,000 Egyptians, in
which the former were defeated, and the grand vizier taken prisoner.
1832. Great riots at Lyons in France, which originated in a strike for
higher wages by the operatives engaged in the silk manufacture, by which
30,000 persons were thrown out of employment, and the city was for some
time at the mercy of the mob.
1835. JAMES HOGG (_the Ettrick Shepherd_), a Scottish poet, died. He was
the son of a very poor shepherd, but his poems raised him to a high
standing as a poet, and caused his society to be sought by the learned
and the great.
1835. ALEXANDER CHEMIOTTE, one of the most learned orientalists of
Europe, died. He wrote a history of all the Arabian emperors under the
Abassides, and other works.
1848. LYNE STABLING died; one of the original proprietors of the soil on
which the city of Columbus is located, and among its earliest
inhabitants. He was one of the most wealthy men of the state, and was
distinguished by private charities and public munificence.
1851. JAMES E. DE KAY, an eminent geologist, died at Oyster bay, aged
59. He was educated for a physician, but devoted himself from early
years to natural history, and contributed the department of zoology to
the publication of the New York survey.
1852. MARY BERRY, an English authoress, died aged 90; embalmed to
posterity by the personal attentions and epistolary intercourse of
Horace Walpole.
1856. SAMUEL SWARTWOUT died, aged 73. He was a noted politician, and
during the presidency of Jackson was collector of the port of New York.