1581. Richard Cox, bishop of Ely, died. He was the chief framer of the liturgy, and translator of the Bible, called The Bishop's Bible, made in the reign of Elizabeth.
1589. Henry III, of France, assassinated. His reign was distracted by the quarrels between the catholics and protestants, till he fell a victim to the zeal of a priest named Clement, and the house of Valois became extinct.
1674. Gerbrant Vanden Eeckhout, a Dutch painter, died. He was a pupil of Rembrant, whom he rivaled in merit and popularity.
1676. Pope Clement X died. He was a Roman, and in disposition mild.
1686. City of Albany incorporated.
1698. Claude Boyer, a dramatic writer, died at Paris.
1704. Gibraltar (Gebel al Tarik, the mountain of Tarik, where the Saracens landed), taken by the British under sir Geo. Rooke, in whose possession it has ever since continued.
1706. Treaty for the union of Scotland with England signed. It was ratified by parliament and queen Anne, and went into operation May 1, the following year.
1734. Peter King, chancellor of England, died. He was a grocer and salter in his boyhood, that being the trade of his father; but his genius soared to higher occupations, and he became a student. His abilities were appreciated and rewarded by a succession of high and responsible offices.
1763. John Dalton, an English divine, died. He prepared Milton's masque of Comus for the stage; sought out the poet's grand-daughter, then overwhelmed with age and poverty, and procured her a benefit which produced £120. His works consist of sermons, poems, &c.