164 B. C. Antiochus Epiphanes, the great enemy of the Jews, died.
1559. Thomas Pope, the founder of Trinity college, Dublin, died.
1597. Anthony Shirley, commanding a British squadron, landed at Jamaica, and marched six miles to the principal town, which submitted to his mercy.
1720. John Adams, a celebrated English preacher, died.
1728. Dean Swift's Stella died at Dublin.
1743. Andrew Hercule de Fleury, cardinal and prime minister of Louis XV, died, aged 90. He was 73 years of age when he was placed at the head of the ministry, at which time the state was in a miserable condition. He healed the wounds of his country, and without bloodshed or cruelty established and increased the internal happiness of France, and its national glory.
1762. From Christmas to this day the weather was severely cold in England. The ice on the Thames it is said was over five feet thick!
1780. The coldest day for 25 years at Philadelphia.
1812. Desperate attempt by a black man, a negro, to fire the British privateer Speedwell. He was killed after 7 shots had been fired at him.
1814. Battle of Brienne, in which the French under Napoleon gained an inconsiderable victory over the allies under Blücher, who narrowly escaped being taken prisoner. It was at this place that Bonaparte acquired the rudiments of that skill in the military art with which he had almost prostrated the world.