TO-DAY IN HISTORY

Southland Times, Issue 20671, 18 December 1928, Page 4

TO-DAY IN HISTORY

DECEMBER 18. Born: Prince Rupert, military commander, Prague, 1619. Died: Robert Nanteuil, engraver, Paris, 1678; Heheage Finch, Earl of Nottingham, 1682; Veit Ludwig von Seckendorf, political and theological writer, Halle, 1692; Soame Jenyns, religious and general writer, 1787; Pierre Louis de Preville, French comedian, 1799; Johann Gottfried von Herder, theologian and philosopher, 1803; Dr Alexander Adam, classic scholar and teacher, Edinburgh, 1809; Thomas Dunham Whitaker, antiquarian, Blackburn, 1821; General Lord Lynedoch, London, 1843; Samuel Rogers, poet, London, 1855. Prince Rupert, son of the Elector Palatine Frederick V. and Elizabeth, daughter of James I. of England, was born in Prague, and after some experience in the Thirty Years’ War on the Protestant side went to England. He fought at Worcester, Edgehill, Marston Moor and Naseby, proving himself a dashing, if erratic, cavalry leader. In 1648 he was given command of the Royalist fleet by Charles I. and continued in service until most of his ships were destroyed by Blake off Malaga in 1650. After the Restoration he returned to England and saw naval service against the Dutch. He devoted the last years of his life to science and art, introducing into England the Mezzotint process of engraving. He died on November 29, 1682. Robert Nanteuil, the French engraver, was born at Rheims about 1623 and in 1646 entered the studio of Nicholas Regnessou at Paris. Twelve years later he became engraver and designer to the French king. By this time he had evolved a clear and beautiful method of engraving and his crayon portraits were also highly esteemed. His engraved portraits included several of Louis XIV. and the Prince of Conde. He died in Paris in 1678.