1765. Charles Andrew Vanloo, a highly distinguished French painter, died.
1766. John Hellot, a French philosophical writer, and distinguished chemist, died.
1781. Gotthold Ephraim Lessing, one of the most distinguished German authors,
died. He contributed more than any other individual to the regeneration of German literature, and was remarkable for the versatility of his genius.
1782. Battle off Fort St. George, East Indies, between the British under Admiral Hughes, and the French under Admiral Suffrein.
1784. Scipio Bexon died at Paris. He assisted Buffon in his natural history, and was also an author in his own name.
1788. George Ann Bellamy, an English actress of the time of Garrick, died at Edinburgh, aged 55. She drew the attention of the town for a number of seasons, particularly when she played Juliet with Garrick at Drury-Lane, against Mrs. Cibber and Barry at Covent Garden. She published her own memoirs in 6 vols.
1794. John Fenn, a learned antiquary, died. He greatly distinguished himself by his application to the study of natural history and antiquities; and made a large collection of curious original letters, written during the fifteenth century, which were published in 4 vols. quarto.
1796. The British under Admiral Elphinstone, captured Colombo in the East Indies, which is at present the seat of the British government in the island of Ceylon.
1798. Rome declared a republic.