Famous People Born In 1731

Martha Washington became the inaugural First Lady of the United States when her husband George Washington took office as the first President of the United States in 1789. She was the daughter of a wealthy man and was first married to Daniel Parke Custis, with whom she had four children. Following Custis’ death, she married George Washington.

Benjamin Banneker was born to a free African-American mother and a former slave father, and was largely self-educated. While he showed immense talent in both mathematics and astronomy, having predicted a solar eclipse with precision, he also wrote essays on civil rights and rallied against slavery.

English natural philosopher, scientist, and a prominent experimental and theoretical physicist and chemist Henry Cavendish is best-remembered for his discovery of hydrogen and his Cavendish experiment. He first recognized that hydrogen, which he termed inflammable air, is a discrete substance which produces water on combustion. He conducted the Cavendish experiment to measure and produce a value for Earth’s density.

Robert Rogers was a British soldier who served during the American Revolution and the French and Indian War. Rogers is remembered for raising and commanding the popular Rogers' Rangers during the French and Indian War. In 1992, he was inducted into the United States Army Ranger Hall of Fame. Robert Rogers’ heroics are depicted in the 1940 film Northwest Passage.

Abraham Hyacinthe Anquetil-Duperron was a French orientalist, considered to be the first professional French Indologist. He is credited to have created the blueprint for the new professional field. He developed an early interest in oriental languages as a young man and traveled to India to study Indian languages. He also had a keen interest in the occult. 

Victor Louis was a French architect best remembered for designing the Grand Théâtre de Bordeaux which is often considered his masterpiece. Victor Louis is also credited with designing other theatres like the Théâtre National de la rue de la Loi and the theatre of the Comédie-Française.

Gustaf Philip Creutz was a Swedish diplomat, statesman, and poet. He is credited with drafting the first Treaty of Amity and Commerce Between the United States and Sweden along with Benjamin Franklin whom he had met in Paris where he was serving as an ambassador.

Danish statesman Ove Høegh-Guldberg initially taught theology at the Sorø Academy. He then became a tutor and private secretary to Prince Frederick. He became a powerful figure during the reign of Christian VII, who was mentally unstable. He also patronized Danish poets and authors.

Henri van der Noot was a Belgian lawyer, jurist, and politician. He is remembered for playing an important role during the Belgian Revolution of 1789–90 against the rule of Joseph II. The revolution helped create the short-lived United States of Belgium where Henri Van der Noot served as the Prime Minister from 11 January 1790 to 2 December 1790.

Welsh poet Evan Evans was one of the prominent figures of the classical revival in Welsh poetry. After dropping out of Oxford, he became a priest and served in at least 18 parishes. His height also earned him the nickname The Tall Poet. He is also known as Ieuan the Poet.