1776. Congress declared the authority of England over the thirteen colonies abolished.
1785. Thomas Davies (alias Honest Tom Davies), an English author, died. He was educated at the university of Edinburgh, became an actor, afterwards a bookseller, turned strolling player, married Miss Yarrow, an actress of great beauty, returned to bookselling, became bankrupt, was relieved by the assistance of Dr. Johnson, wrote the Life of Garrick, several other biographies and innumerable miscellanies, and was entrusted with the publication of Granger's Biographical History of England.
1789. Joseph Baretti, an Italian lexicographer, died. He emigrated to England, where he published an Italian and English dictionary, and assisted Dr. Johnson in compiling his dictionary.
1789. Assembly of the states general of France, at Versailles. This may be called the first day of the revolution, although the object of the meeting was to prevent such a catastrophe.
1795. The law went into operation in England imposing a tax on wearing hair powder.
1802. Cleopatra's coffin, head of the Theban ram, and other Egyptian curiosities, arrived in England.
1804. France formed into an empire.
1808. Peter John George Cabanis, a French physician, died. He was the friend of Mirabeau, sat in the council of 500, and in the senate of Napoleon acquired great reputation for talent, learning and benevolence. His works are published in 7 volumes.
1811. Battle of Fuentes d'Onor, in Portugal; the French repulsed with great loss, by the British under Wellington.
1813. Battle at Fort Meigs; Gen. Clay arrived with 1,000 Kentucky militia and volunteers, attacked the British, carried their batteries and spiked their cannon; but having pressed too far in pursuit, were met by a reinforcement of Indians, and in turn defeated, so that only 150 escaped. The British had fired 143 cannon shot into the fort before the arrival of Gen. Clay. American loss, 64 killed, 124 wounded, exclusive of Clay's loss. British stated their loss at 103, killed, wounded and missing, and that they had taken 495 American prisoners.