1663. Charlotte Tremouille, countess of Derby, died. She was the wife of the earl of Derby who was treacherously beheaded during the civil war of England, and imitated his heroic conduct by defying the attacks of the parliament forces, and was the last person who submitted to them.
1673. The castle formerly standing at the entrance of Boston harbor, accidentally destroyed by fire. It was constructed of timber, since replaced by a new one of stone.
1676. A hissing, detonating meteor passed over Italy two hours after sunset. Its apparent diameter was greater than that of the moon; its real diameter about three quarters of a mile; and the velocity was calculated at 160 miles a minute.
1684. Nathaniel Highmore, an eminent English anatomist, died. He is the author of the first systematic treatise on the structure of the human body, in the English language, and was indefatigable in the pursuit and improvement of anatomical science.
1733. Stanislaus, king of Poland, sent his abdication by express, to Warsaw.
1766. Richard Dawes, an English scholar, died; celebrated as the author of the Miscellanea Critica.
1772. James Nicholas Bellin, a learned and laborious geographical engineer of Paris, died.
1776. The duke of Bridgewater's canal from Manchester to Liverpool completed, a great achievement for the time.
1778. The American ministers, Franklin, Dean and Lee, were publicly received at the French court.
1788. A fire occurred at New Orleans, by which seven-eighths of the city was laid in ashes.