Famous People Born In 1744

Abigail Adams was the closest advisor and wife of the second president of the United States, John Adams. She is credited with influencing John Adams in many ways as the latter often sought the advice of his wife. Adams feature prominently in musicals, films, and TV series that discuss her husband. She has been portrayed by actresses like Laura Linney.

French biologist Jean-Baptiste Lamarck acquired his love for plants while serving as a soldier in the French army. Following an injury, he quit his military career but retained his love for botany. He later taught zoology, studied the classification of invertebrates, and also coined the term biology.

Though he wasn’t a politically experienced ruler, Frederick William II’s reign as the king of Prussia proved to be beneficial for the country in terms of expansion. However, his excesses and his affinity for Protestantism made him unpopular. He patronized art and culture and even played the cello.

German philosopher Johann Gottfried Herder is best remembered as a significant figure of the Sturm und Drang literary movement. Born into poverty and largely self-educated till 17, he later became a disciple of Immanuel Kant and was associated with Enlightenment and Weimar Classicism. He was eventually ennobled.

An important figure of  the Spanish Enlightenment, statesman author Gaspar Melchor de Jovellanos began his career as a criminal judge before returning to his native province, where he completed his best known work, arguing for agricultural reforms. As Minister of Justice he argued against Inquisition and as an important member of the Supreme Central Junta, actively opposed the French invasion.

James McGill was a Scottish Canadian politician, philanthropist, and businessman best remembered for founding McGill University in Montreal, Canada. One of the most important members of the Château Clique, McGill was also one of the founding members of the famous gentleman's dining club, The Beaver Club.

Among the many positions held by Karl Theodor Anton Maria von Dalberg, the most notable were those of the arch-chancellor of the Holy Roman Empire and the archbishop of Mainz. Though he wished to establish a national German church, his wishes were toned down by the pope.

Tomás Antônio Gonzaga was a Brazilian poet who also served as the ombudsman and the ouvidor of the city of Ouro Preto. His life and career have been featured in many Brazilian films and telenovels. Popular actors like Eduardo Galvão, Luiz Linhares, and Gianfrancesco Guarnieri have played Tomás Antônio Gonzaga on-screen.

Honda Toshiaki was a Japanese political economist who was active during the late Edo period. Toshiaki, who studied mathematics, astronomy, and kendo in Edo, went on to open his own school at the age of 24. A polymath, Honda Toshiaki is also remembered for his literary works, Keisei Hisaku and Seiiki Monogatari.

Born to a ceiling designer, Pierre Méchain had to quit studies due to poverty. However, his talent in math earned him work as a hydrographer. A surveyor and astronomer, who spent most of his time studying deep-sky objects, he also gained fame for measuring the meridian arc from Dunkirk to Barcelona.

François-Joseph Bélanger was a French decorator and architect. A popular exponent of the Neoclassic style, Bélanger held an important position within the Menus Plaisirs du Roi, overseeing its decorations and designs. François-Joseph Bélanger was also in charge of the coronation coach of Louis XVI and the funeral preparations for Louis XV.

Japanese painter Okada Beisanjin, also referred to as Hikobe, was a noted bunjinga painter who excelled in painting landscapes in this style. He was the son of an affluent rice merchant and developed interest in painting at an early age, influenced by artists who were family friends. One of his notable paintings is Quiet man and the laid harp.

John Brand was a prominent antiquarian, author, and topographer of 18th-century England. His Observations on Popular Antiquities remains one of his most significant contributions to English folklore. Initially a shoemaker’s apprentice, he later also became a clergyman. He had also been the secretary of the Society of Antiquaries of London.

Micaela Bastidas was a Peruvian leader who campaigned against the Spanish rule in South America. She was martyred during the Peruvian struggle for independence. Along with her husband José Gabriel Condorcanqui, Micaela Bastidas fought against the Spanish forces and suffered martyrdom when the revolt failed.