1683. Algernon Sidney, an English patriot and political writer, beheaded at the age of 66.
1721. Bernard Albinus, a celebrated German physician, died. He was professor at Frankfort and Leyden.
1741. Revolution in Russia.
1776. British under Cornwallis marched to Princeton.
1787. The deputies of the Delaware state convention signed the constitution of the United States, which they had agreed by vote to adopt the day previous. She was the first state that ratified the instrument.
1796. Washington met both houses of congress for the last time as president of the United States.
1799. Battle of Sediman, in Egypt; the French under Dessaix defeated 3,000 Mamelukes and 10,000 Arabs under Murad Bey.
1805. Action off cape St. Mary between the British ship Polyphemus, 64 guns, and Spanish ships Santa Gertruyda, with twelve hundred thousand dollars on board, and El Felix, valued at nearly one million, both of which were captured.
1812. Bonaparte in disguise with Caulincourt arrived at Wilna in a sledge.
1815. Michael Ney, a French marshal, shot. His career under Bonaparte was distinguished during ten years, by great military skill and daring bravery. On the second restoration of the Bourbons he was condemned to death.