1631. A French coin dated 1596, found in digging a well at Dorchester, Mass.
1673. New York taken by the Dutch. A small expedition, fitted out to destroy the commerce of the English in America, having effectually performed this service on the Virginia coast, made their appearance before New York, which submitted without exchanging a shot. New Jersey was also humbled.
1711. The British and colonial fleet, consisting of 12 men of war, 40 transports, and 6 store ships, with 40 horses, a fine train of artillery, and all manner of warlike stores, sailed from Boston for the conquest of Canada.
1718. William Penn, the founder of Pennsylvania, died, aged 74. At the age of 24 he became a preacher among the quakers; but by the grant of Pennsylvania he was placed in the position of a legislator, and well did he sustain it.
1743. Thomas Emlyn, an English dissenting divine, died. He enjoyed an imprisonment of two years' duration, as a reward for the publication of some religious opinions, which no man had a right to entertain in those days.
1746. Eight of those concerned in the pretender's rebellion hung, beheaded and disemboweled near London.
1750. John Sebastian Bach, a German musician, died; celebrated for his skill as an organist, and also as a composer.
1762. Moro fort, at the entrance of the harbor of Havana, stormed by the English under admiral Pococke; 400 Spaniards were either cut in pieces, or perished in attempting to escape by water to the city; the rest threw down their arms and received quarter. (See [Aug. 12].)
1768. Captain Cook sailed from England in the Endeavor, on his first voyage of discovery.
1771. Thomas Gray, an eminent English poet, died. He was one of the most learned men of Europe, equally conversant with every department of science.