Birthdays in History Dec 11 Francesco Algarotti, Italian art collector and encyclopedist (Viaggio in Russia), born in Venice (d. 1764) Dec 12 Prince Charles Alexander of Lorraine, Imperial Army field marshal, born in Lunéville, Duchy of Lorraine (d. 1780) Deaths in History Dec 15 Sidney 1st earl of Godolphine, English minister of Finance, dies at 67 1711 On This Day in History 1713