1707. William Sherlock, an eminent English divine, died, aged about 66; famous for his controversial works, in which he took sides against the dissenters, as also against Dr. South on the subject of the trinity.
1709. Isaac Papin, a French divine, died. His views differed a hair from those of his sect, and persecution followed him from one country to another, till he finally took refuge with the catholics.
1715. Nicholas Lemery, a French chemist, died, aged 70. He was ardently devoted to the science, and contributed much to spread a correct knowledge of it among the people by his lectures.
1720. John Matthews, aged about 18, was executed at Tyburn, for, while an apprentice, printing a political work.
1729. Robert Knell, the compositor, and John Clark, the pressman, of Mist's Journal, were pilloried, but protected by their friends from being pelted by the mob.
1741. Admiral Vernon seized the castles of Carthagena, South America. The British were afterwards compelled to retire on account of pestilence.
1754. A convention of the states at Albany proposed a union for defence against the common enemy. Delegates were present from New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Maryland and New York.
1755. William Hay died in England; remarkable for his deformity, on which he wrote an essay. He was a member of parliament, and an author of some merit.
1757. Action between British ship Experiment, 20 guns, 142 men, and French ship Telemaque, 26 guns, 460 men, in which the latter was captured with the loss of 125 killed, 110 wounded. It had been fitted out expressly to capture the Experiment, which had 12 killed, 36 wounded.
1781. Assault on fort Ninety-six, by the Americans under Gen. Greene, who were repulsed with the loss of 185. The Americans then abandoned the siege. British loss 85.