1854. The insurrection at Madrid (see [17th]) triumphed, and the Rivas ministry resigned.
1855. Joseph L. Folsom, first collector of the customs at San Francisco, died, aged 38. He was educated at West Point, and after serving in Florida, went to California with a New York regiment in 1847. He was reputed the richest man in California.
1857. A fire broke out in Taiefa, Portugal, which spread over an immense district of agricultural country, consuming a vast quantity of standing grain, country houses, barns, &c.
JULY 20.
1322 B. C. The great Canicular cycle of the Egyptians, consisting of 1460 years, began with the sun in Cancer, 15 days after the summer solstice. Its first revolution was just completed with the reign of Adrian, 138 A. D.; its second in the time of Shakspeare, 1598. The famous expedition of the Argonauts, and the foundation of the Pythian games, are events which chronologists have placed sixty years afterwards.
44 B. C. The customary games in memory of Cæsar's victories were exhibited by Octavius upon this day, dedicated to Venus Mater, when he produced the hero's golden spectatorial chair. The anniversary is interesting from the fact of a comet having appeared near the Great Bear, which was visible for seven days.
1031. Robert (the Wise), king of France, died. He refused the crown of the empire and of Italy, satisfied to rule his own subjects, for whose happiness he labored earnestly.
1164. Peter Lombard, bishop of Paris, died; called Master of the Sentences, from a work of his by that name, which has been ably commented on by succeeding divines.
1546. The emperor Charles V placed the protestant confederates under the ban of the empire; whereupon they declared war upon him. (See [July 15].)
1553. Lady Jane Grey's nine days' usurpation terminated.