Famous People Born In 1751

James Madison played an important role in drafting the US Constitution and the US Bill of Rights and is hailed as the Father of the Constitution. He also co-wrote The Federalist Papers, considered to be a seminal work of political science. As president, he led the country into the 1812 war and historians place him as an above-average president.

John André was a British military leader who served as a major in the British Army. He played an important role during the American Revolutionary War, serving as the head of the British Army's Secret Service in America. He was executed by the Continental Army on 2 October 1780. John André's life inspired many artworks, including the 1798 play André.

Irish-born playwright and satirist Richard Brinsley Sheridan is remembered for his plays such as The School for Scandal and A Trip to Scarborough. He owned Drury Lane Theatre in London and was known for reviving the Restoration comedy of manners, replete with stock characters and satire.

Clement Mary Hofbauer was a Moravian hermit and priest of the Redemptorist congregation. He is best remembered for his lifelong work to improve the conditions of the poor during a riotous period that left thousands in destitution in Europe. The Catholic Church has declared him a saint for his service.

Irish-American sniper of the American Revolutionary War, Timothy Murphy was the man who inspired John Brick's novel The Rifleman. He is best remembered for his bravery at the Second Battle of Saratoga, in which he killed two British generals, aiming at them from a tree.

Eighteenth-century actor and painter Joseph Lange is also remembered as legendary composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s brother-in-law. Mozart, who had married Lange’s wife Aloysia Weber’s sister, appeared in an iconic portrait painted by Lange, which was later affixed to an unfinished artwork. Lange also appeared in Mozart’s operas.

The queen consort of Spain Maria Luisa was the wife of Spanish king Charles IV and the daughter of Duke Philip of Parma. She often served as the muse of Spanish artist Goya. She also started the Order of Queen Maria Luisa to reward noble women. She was later exiled with Charles.

Claude-François-Dorothée, marquis de Jouffroy d'Abbans was a French engineer and naval architect. He is credited with inventing the first steamboat, which in turn led to the first industrial revolution. He is also credited with developing a steamship named Palmipède and a paddle steamer called Pyroscaphe. In 1803, Robert Fulton used Jouffroy d'Abbans' ideas to sail a steamship on the Seine.

While he initially studied law, Gilbert Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound, 1st Earl of Minto later became a prominent diplomat. Named the governor-general of India, he prevented the invasion of bandit leader Amīr Khan and later signed the Treaty of Amritsar with Ranjit Singh. He also controlled the French in the East Indies.