What Happened in October 1639

Historical Events

Battle of the Dunes

Oct 21 Sea battle at Dunes, Lt Admiral Maarten Tromp defeats Spanish armada under De Oquendo

Famous Birthdays

  • Oct 14 Simon van der Stel, 1st governor of Dutch Cape Colony (1679-99), born in Indian Ocean en route to Mauritius (d. 1712)

Famous Deaths

  • Oct 7 Johannes Isacius Pontanus, Dutch teacher and historian (1st history of Amsterdam), dies at 68
  • Oct 28 Stefano Landi, Italian composer (b. 1587)