1691. Battle of Aghrim in Ireland; the French under Gen. St. Ruth defeated and himself killed by the forces of William III under Gen. Ginckle. Of the French and Irish catholics 4000 were slain and 600 taken, with their baggage, artillery, &c.; English lost 800 on the field.
1691. Cardinal Pignatelli elected pope, and took the name of Innocent III.
1712. Richard Cromwell died, aged 82. He assumed the protectorate of England on the death of his father, but found himself inadequate to sustain the office, and resigned it to retire to more peaceful pursuits. He inherited little of his father's ambition.
1637. Johnson, "a stranger in London," addressed Cave, editor of the Gentleman's Magazine, "having observed in his papers very uncommon encouragement to men of letters." In this letter he proposed a translation from the Italian of Sarpi.
1730. Lawrence Corsine elected pope, the conclave having sat four months.
1776. Lord Howe arrived from Europe with a formidable squadron and 30,000 men, chiefly Hessians, and joined his brother Gen. Howe on Staten island.
1776. Capt. Cook sailed on his third and last voyage of discovery.
1779. Biœrnstahl, a learned Swedish professor of the oriental languages, died at Salonica in Turkey.
1780. Sumpter with 133 men attacked and defeated a detachment of British at Williamson's plantation, South Carolina.
1791. Baba Mahomet, dey of Algiers, died, aged 80. He was one of the most singular characters of the age; raised himself from a common soldier to the throne, and governed a nation of barbarians more than 25 years with uncommon reputation. He was succeeded by Sidi-Hassan, his prime minister, whose succession was accomplished, for the first time, without bloodshed.