1772. Gottfried Achenwall, an eminent German lecturer on statistics, history and the laws of nature, died at Göttingen.
1774. William Hewson died; an eminent English anatomist, and medical author.
1775. Israel Lyons died; a celebrated English mathematician.
1776. Dr. Adam Weishaupt, professor of canon law at Ingolstadt, founded the secret society of the illuminati.
1785. Miles Cooper died; a learned English divine and poet.
1786. Gibbon concluded the fourth volume of his History, immortal as its subject.
1789. The states general of France met at Paris, convened by the king to calm the troubles of the state, which he had not power to quell, and which had now assumed a menacing appearance towards royalty itself.
1790. Indian war commenced between the British and Tippo Saib, sultan of Mysore.
1807. Slave trade in the West Indies proscribed in the British parliament.
1808. A volcano broke out in the island of St. George, one of the Azores. A crater was formed in the centre of the island, amidst fertile pastures, 3,500 feet in height, and this beautiful island, before rich in cattle, corn and wine, became a scene of ruin and devastation.