1137. LOTHAIRE II, emperor of Germany, died. He was king of Saxony when
he was made king of Germany, and finally invested with the title of
emperor.
1139. ROGER, prior of Hexham, died; author of a history of the campaign
of the Scottish army under king David.
1214. WILLIAM (_the Lion_), of Scotland, died. He confederated with
Henry of England against his father, and his inconsiderate valor at the
siege of Alnwick, as well as many other rash acts, brought misfortunes
on himself and disgrace upon his people.
1334. JOHN XXII (_James d'Eusse_), pope, died. He rose under the
patronage of Charles II, of Naples. He attempted the suppression of the
Cordeliers; was an active pontiff, and respected for his frugality,
prudence and sanctity.
1402. CHARLES VI granted letters patent to the priests to enact
mysteries, or as they came to be called moralities, such as the
conception of the Savior, &c.
1642. JOHN ARMAND DU PLESSIS DE RICHELIEU, a celebrated French cardinal
and statesman, died. He was a man of great capacity and boundless
ambition, whose ministry forms an era in the French government, and
prepared the way for the power and grandeur of the reign of Lewis XIV.
1649. WILLIAM DRUMMOND, a Scottish poet and historian, died. He preceded
Waller in polishing English versification.
1654. The expedition under Venables and Penn, sailed for America.
1664. The English, under the duke of York, destroyed 130 of the Bordeaux
fleet.
1672. The king of England shut up the exchequer, and suspended payment.
1679. THOMAS HOBBES, a celebrated English writer, died. He published his
religious, political and moral principles in a complete system, which he
called the _Leviathan_. It is said that few writings have had a more
pernicious influence in spreading irreligion and infidelity than his,
and yet that none of them were directly leveled against revealed
religion.
1679. JOHN BIRKENHEAD died; professor of moral philosophy at Oxford, a
zealous royalist, and a popular courtier.
1680. THOMAS BARTHOLINE, a learned Danish physician, died. He lost his
library by fire, but that his pursuits might not be interrupted he was
made librarian to the university. His works are chiefly medical.
1717. Mr. SHIPPEN, a member of the British parliament, from _Salt Ash_,
sent to the tower for saying, "The king's speech was fitted rather for
the meridian of Germany than England." The king had little acquaintance
with the English language.
1732. JOHN GAY, a celebrated English poet, died; whose fables will ever
be admired. His play of the _Beggar's Opera_ was received with greater
favor than had ever been known on any former occasion.
1746. Genoa surrendered to the Austrians, and was subjected to the most
cruel contributions.
1777. Sir WILLIAM HOWE marched the British army from Philadelphia, to
Whitemarsh, for the purpose of attacking Washington, but marched back
again without making the attack.
1783. WASHINGTON took leave of the officers of the American army in New
York.
1789. The city and suburbs of London, overspread with a dense fog, so
that the stages traveling between the city and the surrounding villages,
were at five in the afternoon, obliged to be preceded by men with
lanterns, a thing unprecedented in the memory of any one living.
1792. WILLIAM FORDYCE, an eminent Scottish physician and philanthropist,
died in London where he enjoyed an extraordinary reputation.
1798. Minister PITT'S bill, establishing the ten per cent income tax,
was introduced into the British parliament.
1808. CHARLES LOUIS FERNOW died; a distinguished German writer on the
fine arts. His father was a common laborer, and his early years were
those of a talented youth struggling with poverty and other
difficulties. After finishing an apprenticeship as an apothecary, he
maintained himself by portrait painting and teaching drawing; and
finally devoted his attention to the history of the fine arts and
Italian literature. His productions are valuable.
1808. Madrid, being invested by Bonaparte, surrendered. The Spaniards
were disarmed, and the town filled with the French army. The pavement
had been taken up; the streets barricadoed; the houses on the outskirts
loopholed; but in a few days tranquility seemed completely
re-established; the French soldiery observed excellent discipline; the
shops were re-opened, and the theatres frequented as usual. Such is in
most cases the enthusiasm of a great city.
1808. The inquisition abolished by Bonaparte this day.
1815. CHRISTIAN GODFREY GRUNER, a celebrated German physician, died. He
was one of the most prolific writers on medical science; having written
50 large works, and as many essays.
1819. Alabama admitted into the union.
1823. SUSAN HUNTINGTON died at Boston; an intelligent American
authoress, whose _Life of Wisner_ has passed through several editions in
Europe and America.
1826. ABRAHAM ROBERTSON, an eminent English astronomer, died.
1829. Abolition of the rite of suttee, or immolation of Hindoo widows on
the funeral pile of their husbands; the British government interposed to
prevent its continuance.
1829. Commencement of a revolution in Mexico; Bustamente, the
vice-president, issued a proclamation against the government of Guerero,
demanding the resignation of his extraordinary powers.
1830. WILLIAM B. GILES, died at his seat in Amelia county, Virginia. He
was chiefly instrumental in getting up the celebrated resolutions of
Virginia, 1798-99, and the no less celebrated Virginia report.
1831. General TORRIJOS, with 54 of his partisans, taken and executed, at
Malaga, in Spain.
1836. RICHARD WESTALL, an eminent English artist, died. He was the
author of a great number of works and designs, and well known for his
numerous beautiful illustrations of elegant literature.
1839. SAMUEL BUTLER, an English prelate, died. He was the author of
various publications, and collected a library valued at £30,000.
1840. JOHN ROBINSON, an English prelate, died, aged 66. He compiled a
theological dictionary, and a work on the antiquities of Greece, ancient
and modern history, and some others.
1845. ELISHA BLACKMAN, the last survivor of the Wyoming massacre, died
at his residence, in Hanover, Wyoming valley, aged 89, and was buried
with military honors.
1851. GEORGE CRABBE, an eminent English author, died near London, aged
73.
1852. An earthquake at Acapulco did great damage to the city, though
without destroying any lives. Shocks were continued for a considerable
time.
1853. Kalafat attacked by the Russians, who were repulsed with great
slaughter.