1667. Abraham Cowley, an eminent English poet, died. Addison observed of him, that no author ever abounded so much in wit, according to Locke's definition of it.
1718. Stephen Baluze, a French writer, died, aged 87. He wrote the lives of the popes of Avignon, and was an indefatigable collector of curious manuscripts, &c.
1750. Conyers Middleton, a celebrated English divine and critical author, died. His writings are numerous, and display profound learning and extensive information.
1750. Thomas Gordon, who in company with John Trenchard, for some time managed the Independent Whig, died at London. His knowledge of the classics was respectable and he translated Tacitus.
1789. The Pittsburg Gazette was printed, the first newspaper west of the Allegany mountains.
1790. The Forth and Clyde canal opened from the British to the Atlantic ocean, in Scotland.
1793. French general Semonville arrested on his route to Constantinople to bribe the divan; 64,000 louis d'ors and a great quantity of jewels were found on him.
1794. Maximilian Isidore Robespierre, the sanguinary demagogue of the French revolution, guillotined, aged 35. He rose from obscurity by his talents, but the demon of destruction seemed to sway his mind and urge him on to the most inhuman deeds that ever disgraced even a political demagogue. Twenty others perished at the same time by the same means.
1802. Joseph Sarti, an Italian music composer, died. He resided at the court of Catharine of Russia, where he was master of the chapel. He composed a Te Deum for the taking of Oczakow, the bass of which was accompanied by cannon of different calibre.
1804. Pompey, a negro man, died at Dover, Delaware, aged 120.