DECEMBER 15.
337 B. C. Timoleon, an illustrious Corinthian, died at Syracuse. He went to the assistance of the Syracusans against the tyrant Dionysius, and became there a most benevolent and popular character.
215. B. C. Hieronymus, tyrant of Syracuse, slain. From his fall is dated the three years' siege of Marcellus, and the death of Archimedes at the end of it.
168. B. C. Antiochus Epiphanes set up his abomination, the statue of Jupiter, in the sacred temple, it being the anniversary of his own birthday.
533. Tribonian began the Digests or Pandects, that astonishing labor, which condensed within fifty books a body of three million sentences from dead civilians, and which he finished by the aid of seventeen associates in exactly three years.
882. John VIII, pope, died. He held a council at Troyes, but was called back to Italy by the invasion of the Saracens, who were so successful that they obliged him to pay an annual tribute. Three hundred of his letters are preserved.
1347. Abdication and exile of Rienzi the Roman tribune.
1582. The Gregorian style adopted at Paris, omitting ten days.
1683. Izaak Walton, an English writer, died, aged 90. He acquired a fortune and occupied his time in writing and angling; his little treatise called the Complete Angler is unique.
1692. George Adam Struvius died; professor of jurisprudence at Jena, and counselor of the king of Saxony.
1715. George Hicks died, an English divine, antiquary, critic and polemical writer of great learning and abilities.
1725. John Johnson, an English non-juror divine, died. Although promoted to various dignities in the church, he entertained a contempt for its articles and liturgy.
1745. Battle of Kesseldorf; the Prussians under the prince of Anhalt, defeated the Austrians and Saxons, who lost 3,000 killed and 6,500 prisoners.
1751. Henry St. John, viscount Bolingbroke, for many years busily engaged in the politics, literature and philosophy of his times, died of cancer in the face, aged 73.
1764. Robert Lloyd, an English poet and miscellaneous writer, died in the Fleet prison.
1771. Benjamin Stillingfleet, a distinguished poet and naturalist, died.
1778. French admiral count d'Estaing, arrived from America at St. Lucia and attacked unsuccessfully the British fleet and batteries in the bay of Grand Cul de Sac, in which he sustained great loss.
1782. William Francis Berthier, a French Jesuit, died; known as the conductor for many years of the Journal de Travaux, royal librarian and preceptor of Lewis XVI.
1782. American ship Commerce, 16 guns, Capt. Truxton, engaged a British brig of 18 guns and a schooner of 14 guns; he was obliged to make off on the appearance of two other British vessels. He saved his convoy, and they all arrived at St. Thomas in safety, a few hours after the action.
1794. Carrier, Pinard and Grand Maison guillotined at Paris. The former was noted for his refined cruelty to the numerous victims which power placed in his hands. On the fall of the mountain party he was consigned to punishment, which he well merited.
1810. Sarah Trimmer, an English authoress, died. She is well known by her various works designed for the use of children.
1814. Meeting of the Hartford convention, which consisted of 26 members from the new England states, to consult upon the exigencies of the times, and the defenceless condition of the coast.
1831. Hannah Adams, an American authoress, died. She was a native of Massachusetts, a woman of great excellence and purity of character, and a writer of very fair reputation. Her monument is to be seen in the Mount Auburn cemetery, near Boston.
1834. Andrew Frank, a colored man, died at Johnston, R. I., aged 104.
1836. The United States post office, the patent office and the Washington city post office, together with the contents of the two latter, destroyed by fire. In the patent office were 7,000 models of patents, out of 10,000 which had been granted by congress; 163 large folio volumes of records; 26 port folios containing 9,000 drawings, many of them beautifully executed and valuable.
1837. John Cox died, aged 85. He was a captain in the naval service of Virginia in the early part of the revolutionary war, and was one of the most efficient and distinguished patriots during the contest.
1837. Philip Sing Physic, a Philadelphia physician and surgeon of great eminence, died, aged 70. He was long a celebrated professor of anatomy and surgery in the university of Pennsylvania.
1840. The remains of Bonaparte were removed from Cherbourg, where they were disembarked, to the Church of the invalides at Paris. The procession was splendid beyond all precedent, the number assembled being computed at 500,000. The king and royal family were present at the ceremony, and 60,000 national guards were in attendance.
1842. John R. Watrous, an eminent physician and revolutionary surgeon, died at Colchester, Conn., aged 91.
1842. Benjamin Parkhurst died at Royalton, Vt., aged 97. He was the first settler of that town, living in it over 78 years, and of a family famed for longevity. His parents died at the age of 97. His grandfather reached 100, and his grandmother 104 years.
1848. The postal convention between Great Britain and the United States signed at London by lord Palmerston and Mr. Bancroft.
1854. Kamehameha III, king of the Sandwich islands, died, aged 41, and was succeeded by prince Alexander Liholiho, aged 20, under the title of Kamehameha IV.