1683. Robert Fitzgerald received a patent in England for making salt water fresh.
1701. John Dryden, an illustrious English poet, died. "What he has done in any one species or distinct kind of writing would have been sufficient to have acquired him a great name."
1703. Battle of Pultusk, in Poland, in which the Swedes under Charles XII defeated 10,000 Poles.
1707. Union of England and Scotland consummated.
1708. Claude de Vert died; he devoted much attention to the ceremonies of the church of Rome, of which he wrote a history.
1727. Francis Paris, a French ecclesiastic, died. He retired from office, bestowing his property upon his brother, in order to devote himself to the austerities of a religious life. After his death crowds flocked to his grave to touch his holy monument, till the authorities caused the church yard to be shut.
1737. John Alphonsus Turretini died; professor of ecclesiastical history at Geneva, distinguished for his learning.
1755. John Baptist Oudri died; an admired French painter.
1760. William Duncan died; an ingenious Scottish critic, professor of philosophy at Aberdeen, and translator of Cæsar's Commentaries.
1771. Louis Petit de Bachaumon died; a native of Paris, known as the author of several literary works.