For some reason I always have a glitch when it comes to people talking about a century. If someone says “16th Century” it takes my brain a second to think “okay, 16th century means it is really dates like 1560, etc. So it is for the hundred years BEFORE the “16”).
Perhaps Perry did the same thing - but he got confused and thought “dates in the 1700’s like 1776”? Not trying to make excuses for the guy - just wondering.
Of course, like I tell my kids all the time when it comes to helping them with their home work - I’m an idiot.
My thoughts, too. You know that the xxth century is one off from the xx00's and you go the wrong way. No big deal.