821 Theodulf, poet, scholar, secretary of education and bishop of Orleans during Charlemagne’s reign, died (b. ca. 760).

1431 The Council of Florence (Basel) was declared dissolved by Pope Eugenius IV because of anti-papacy statements. It continued, however, at various times and in various locations through 1445.

1518 Frederick III, Elector of Saxony (1463–1525) refused to banish Martin Luther.

1692 Veit Ludwig von Seckendorf, German Lutheran historian, hymnist, statesman and scholar, died (b. 20 December 1626,
Herzogenaurach, near Erlangen).

1707 Charles Wesley, co-founder of Methodism and a hymnist, was born at Epworth Rectory, England (d. 29 March 1788).

1725 Johann Salomo Semler, German church historian and Bible commentator, was born (d. 14 March 1791).

1737 Antonio Stradivari, maker of violins, died (b. 1644).

1789 John Darwall, Anglican clergyman and composer, died at Walsall, in Haughton, Staffordshire, England (b. 1731, Haughton, Staffordshire, England).

1819 Isaac Hecker, American Roman Catholic priest and founder of the Paulists, was born in New York City (d. 22 December 1888).

1834 Emory College was chartered in Oxford, Georgia, under Methodist auspices. In 1915 the name was changed to Emory
University, and in 1919 the college was relocated in Atlanta.

1835 Lyman Abbott, Congregational clergyman, editor and author, was born in Roxbury, Massachusetts (d. 22 October 1922).

1857 Johann Leonhard George Mezger, theological professor at Concordia Seminary (Saint Louis) and in Berlin, was born in
Brunswick, Germany (d. 3 November 1931).

1859 Francis Thompson, English poet, was born in Lancashire, England (d. 13 November 1907).

1863 Johann Friedrich Gustav Harders, missionary to American Indians at Globe, Arizona, was born in Kiel, Germany (d. 13 April 1917).

1865 Slavery was abolished in the United States as the Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution was ratified.

1867 Henry Harbaugh, hymnist, died in Mercersburg, Pennsylvania (b. 28 October 1817, Waynesboro, Pennsylvania).

1877 Joergen Peter Nielsen, president of Trinity Seminary, Blair, Nebraska, was born in Sludstrup, Parish Sjalland, Denmark (d. 1 August 1963).

1895 The Anti-Saloon League of America was organized at Washington, D.C.