1728. Henry Brown obtained a patent from the English government for an improvement in the manufacture of cannon.
1742. Hugh Boulter, primate of Ireland, died, leaving behind him an enviable reputation. During the great scarcity of 1741 in Ireland, 2500 persons were daily supported at his expense.
1742. John Baptist Massillon, a famous French ecclesiastic, died. His name has almost become proverbial as a powerful master of eloquence. (18th?)
1763. John Byrom, an English poet, died. He was also famous as the inventor of a system of short hand writing.
1768. The commissioners of the customs having solicited the presence of a regular force in Boston, two British regiments, escorted by seven armed vessels, arrived from Halifax and took up quarters in the town.
1776. Cadwallader Colden, lieutenant-governor of New York under the British dynasty, died, aged 88. He was a Scottish physician; his publications were numerous in botany, medicine, history and philosophy.
1777. General Wayne, with a detachment of 1500 men, on the left wing of the British army, was surprised and defeated with a loss of about 300.
1778. A regiment of American cavalry stationed at Tappan on the Hudson river, was surprised while sleeping, by the British under general Gray, who rushed upon them with their bayonets, and giving them no quarter, 67 were killed, wounded and taken.
1779. The famed Houghton collection of pictures (lord Walpole's) was purchased by the empress of Russia, and shipped for Petersburg.
1780. Americans under general Marion attacked a party of tories at Black Mingo; several were killed and others taken.