1525. Thomas Munzer, a Saxon divine, executed. In conjunction with Stork, he pulled down all the images in the churches which Luther had left standing, and finally at the head of 40,000 men, commenced leveler of all ranks and distinctions, as usurpations on the rights of mankind. He was at length defeated in battle, when 7,000 of his followers were slain and himself captured.
1568. Mary, queen of Scots, crossed the frith of Solway, the irremeable stream, and landed in England.
1681. Female dancers first introduced on the Parisian stage, in a court opera, called Le Triumphe de l'Amour.
1691. Leisler and Milbourne hung as the cause of the Schenectady massacre.
1710. Thomas Smith died; a learned English writer on the manners and religion of the Turks, &c.
1725. Paul de Rapin de Thoyras, an eminent French historical writer, died. He served in the English army, and devoted 17 years to a History of England, which was published in 10 vols. quarto.
1747. M. Buffon, the celebrated naturalist, communicated to the Academy of sciences the results of some experiments on burning glasses, asserting the account of Archimedes burning the Roman ships at Syracuse, were neither absurd nor false.
1770. Louis XVI of France espoused Maria Antoinette, archduchess of Austria. A violent tempest on that day was regarded as an omen of future misfortunes.
1776. The French navigator, De Pages, passed the 81st degree of north latitude, in an attempt to reach the pole.
1776. John Hoadley, an English poet and dramatic writer, died. He was the son of bishop Hoadley, took orders and was loaded with preferments.