1857. Samuel Hueston, for many years publisher of the Knickerbocker Magazine, died in New York.
OCTOBER 7.
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.