1740. Porto Bello, on the isthmus of Darien, taken by the English under Admiral Vernon.
1758. Jonathan Edwards, the most celebrated of American metaphysicians and theologians, died of small pox, aged 55. There have been three great editions of his works published, one in England and two in this country.
1765. Stamp act passed by the British parliament, the first attempt to tax America without allowing her a representation in the parliament.
1772. John Canton, an English natural philosopher, died. He was a cloth-weaver, and first devoted his leisure moments to mathematics. He became a member of the royal society, and obtained their gold medal by his experiments on the Leyden phial.
1797. Battle of La Chinse, in Austria.
The French under Guieux drove the imperialists before them until they fell in with Massena at Tarwis and were defeated. The French took 5000 prisoners, 400 wagons and 30 cannon.
1797. The French under Joubert crossed the Adige at Newmark, in Saxony, defeated Gen. Laudohn, entered Botzen, and matched directly for Claufen. The French took 1500 prisoners.
1806. Murat proclaimed at Dusseldorf, "Prince Joachim, duke of Cleves and Berg."
1821. Stephen Decatur, a distinguished American commodore, died at Washington, aged 41.
1828. Louis Choris, an eminent Russian painter and draftsman to Kotzebue's circumnavigating expedition, was killed in company with his traveling companion, near Vera Cruz in Mexico.