1537. A terrible and destructive eruption of Mount Ætna.
1553. Three vessels sailed from England, under Sir Hugh Willoughby, to explore the northern seas. By this voyage an inlet was discovered to the White sea and the bay of Archangel, and an almost exclusive commerce established with Russia in that quarter.
1554. Francisco de Orellana sailed from St. Lucar, in Spain, with 4 ships and 400 men, for the purpose of exploring the river Amazon. He forced his way up about 120 leagues, and meeting with disasters by which he lost his ships and the greater part of his men, he turned about
and died on his way back. "Orellana was very warmly received by armed swift-footed females, which originated the fanciful name Amazonia."
1676. The Indians assaulted the town of Plymouth, Mass., and burned 11 houses and 5 barns; and two days after they burned 7 houses and 2 barns, and the remaining houses in Namasket.
1686. Otho Guericke, a Prussian philosopher, died. He was the most celebrated mathematician of his time, and invented the air pump.
1690. Charlemont, in Ireland, taken by the English.
1696. The Reformed Dutch church at New York incorporated.
1723. Jean Gualbert de Campistron, a French poet, died. He is thought to be little inferior to Racine in the merit of his dramatic compositions.
1743. Several tons of leaden pipe were dug up in Fleet street, London, laid down 300 years before.