1745. Jonathan Swift, the eccentric dean of St. Patrick's, died, aged 78, in a state of idiocy, leaving £10,000 to found a hospital for lunatics and idiots.
1749. William Ged, an ingenious Scottish artist, died; memorable for a new invention in the art of printing, called stereotyping.
1762. Dark day at Detroit; "one of the darkest days that ever was known."
1763. A patrol of horse commanded by sir John Fielding, established on the roads leading to London, to clear them of robbers and highwaymen.
1769. A terrible eruption of Vesuvius.
1780. Engagement at Palatine Bridge, N. Y.; colonel Brown killed.
1781. Cornwallis surrendered to the French and American army at Yorktown. Above 7000 prisoners, the military chest, a frigate, with a number of transports and the public stores, and 1500 seamen, fell into the hands of the captors. The allied army consisted of 7000 French, 5500 continental troops, and 3500 militia.
1789. François, a baker in Paris, murdered in the street by a mob, because the return of the king had not lessened the price of bread. The great barbarity shown by the actors in this affair called down on them the severity of the national guards under Lafayette.
1794. Battle of Puffleck; the duke of York defeated by the French under Pichegru. The emigrant legion under Rohan were cut to pieces.
1806. Henry Kirke White, an admired English poet, died, aged 21.