1842. John C. Colt under sentence of death in New York for the murder of Mr. Adams, killed himself on the day appointed for his execution.
1853. Andrews Norton, an American theologian, died, aged 68. He wrote several theological works, was a profound and accurate scholar, and for talent, acquirements and influence, one of the most remarkable men of New England.
1854. The British consul at the Sandwich islands presented his protest to the king, against the annexation of those islands to the United States.
1854. William Plumer, a New Hampshire statesman, died, aged 65. He graduated at Harvard, and while in congress opposed the Missouri compromise. He was a man of taste, had an attachment to historical researches, and collected a fine library. He published two small volumes of poems.
1855. John F. W. Johnston, an eminent English chemist and mineralogist, died at Durham, aged 59. He published several valuable works on agricultural chemistry and geology, and was a contributor to the reviews.
SEPTEMBER 19.
880. Abbategnia decided the obliquity of the ecliptic to be 23° 25´.
1356. Battle of Poictiers, between the English army of 12,000 men, under
Edward, the Black Prince, and the French, 60,000 under king John. The battle ended in the utter rout of the French army and the capture of their king, who was afterwards led in triumph through the streets of London.
1471. The first book known to have been printed in the English tongue bears this date, and is entitled The Recuyell of the History of Troy, translated from the French, and printed by William Caxton, at Cologne. (See [Oct. 4].)