1610. Galilei discovered the satellites of Jupiter.
1657. Theophilus Eaton, first governor of the colony at New Haven, died. Before coming to America he was employed by the king as an agent at the court of Denmark. He was one of the original patentees of Massachusetts. On the settlement of New Haven he was chosen governor, for which office his integrity, dignity and wisdom peculiarly fitted him, and which he filled till his death.
1681. The commons of England resolved that till a bill be passed, excluding the duke of York from the throne, no supplies could be granted without danger to the state.
1692. The philosophical Robert Boyle died leaving a sum of money for a monthly sermon against atheism.
1715. Francois de Salignac de la Motte Fenelon, died. He preached his first sermon at the age of 15; and he was distinguished for learning and piety. The celebrated romance, Telemaque, was published against his will by the treachery of his servant, and involved him in difficulties with the king, who considered it a satire upon his reign. During the revolution of 1793 his coffin was dug up to furnish lead for bullets. In 1819 a monument was erected to his memory by public subscription, and in 1826 a statue by the sculptor David was placed at Cambray. The age in which he lived could not appreciate his worth.
1740. A rock fell on a large number of young people while at play on the first Monday of the year, at Kirkaldy, Scotland.
1758. Allan Ramsay, a Scottish poet and author of the Gentle Shepherd, died.
1767. Thomas Clap, an American mathematician and natural philosopher, died. He graduated at Harvard college, and by singular industry made great acquisitions in almost every branch of learning. In 1739 he was elected president of Yale college, and continued in that office till the year before his death. He constructed the first orrery in America.
1779. Lafayette embarked at Boston, in the frigate Alliance, for France.
1779. The Mirror, appeared at Edinburgh, to which Mackenzie the novelist was a principal contributor.