Famous People Born In 1791

Michael Faraday was an English scientist known for his contribution to the study of electrochemistry and electromagnetism. Considered one of the most influential scientists ever, Faraday's inventions of electromagnetic rotary devices established the basis for electric motor technology. His research also helped understand the concept of the electromagnetic field. Ernest Rutherford called him one of the greatest scientific discoverers ever.

James Buchanan was a prominent American lawyer who served as the 15th president of the United States. He is often criticized for failing to address the issue of slavery and is consistently ranked among America's worst presidents. His life and work inspired the 2019 film Raising Buchanan in which he was played by René Auberjonois.

Apart from being a traveler and a mountaineer, Anne Lister was also known as the world’s "first modern lesbian". Nicknamed Gentleman Jack for her androgynous fashion, which almost always included the color black, she penned diaries that contained many secret codes that were deciphered much after her death.

Marie Louise was an Austrian archduchess who reigned as Duchess of Parma from 1814 until her death. The eldest child of Emperor Francis II of Austria and his second wife, Maria Theresa, she grew up during a tumultuous period in the history of Austria. She was married to Napoleon I from 1810 to 1821. She died of pleurisy in 1847.  

Franz Xaver Wolfgang Mozart was the youngest son of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Constanze. He followed in the footsteps of his father and went on to become a pianist, composer, conductor, and teacher. However, unlike his father, Franz Xaver Wolfgang Mozart was introverted and often underrated his talent. He also had a constant fear of being compared to his father.

Carl Czerny was an Austrian composer, pianist, and teacher of Czech origin.  Born into a musical family, he started playing the piano as a toddler and began composing at the age of seven. He was prolific in his music production and composed over a thousand works, with his music spanning the late Classical and early Romantic eras.  

Sikh warrior Hari Singh Nalwa was one of the most feared army commanders of India and is remembered for his multiple battles against the Afghans. Part of Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s army, he had also been the governor of Kashmir, Hazara, and Peshawar. He died during the Battle of Jamrud.

Franz Grillparzer had a tough life, with his father dying in debt and his mother having committed suicide. He studied law and then worked as a government clerk before discovering his passion for writing. Known for his tragedies such as Sappho, he became one of the finest Austrian dramatists ever.

Danish author Johan Ludvig Heiberg was one of the most prominent figures of the Danish Romantic school. He was also a pioneer of Hegelianism and vaudeville in Denmark. Om Vaudevillen remains one of his best-known works. He also taught Danish at the University of Kiel. His satirical works, however, made him unpopular.

Alexandros Mavrokordatos was a Greek statesman, politician, diplomat, and member of the famous Mavrocordatos family of Phanariotes. He served as the President of the Provisional Administration of Greece from 1822 to 1823. An influential politician, who played a key role during the Greek Revolution, Mavrokordatos also served as the Prime Minister of Greece on four occasions between 1833 and 1855.

Born to famous Italian architect Ennio Quirino Visconti, Louis Visconti studied architecture in Paris. He later became one of the chief architects of the Louvre. However, his best-known creation was Napoleon’s tomb at Les Invalides. He was one of the proponents of the Second Empire style.

The son of Cambodian king Ang Eng, Ang Chan II, also known as Udaraja III, was recognized as a king by the Thais. He maintained good relations with both Vietnam and Siam, so that peace could be maintained in Cambodia. Following his death, both Vietnam and Siam took over control of Cambodia.

Uruguayan poet Francisco Acuña de Figueroa is remembered for his iconic poems such as Salve Multiforme. He also penned the national anthems of both Uruguay and Paraguay. He had succeeded his father as the state treasurer and had headed the Public Library and Museum as its director.

Though a qualified lawyer, József Katona later gained fame as one of Hungary’s most renowned playwrights. His historical tragedy Bánk bán, which was his entry for a contest, was chiefly ignored, and this made him turn to law and work as an attorney general. The tragedy eventually gained popularity after his death.  

After initially working at his father’s business, Samuel Bailey established the Sheffield Banking Company. The 19th-century British philosopher and economist was a significant figure of Utilitarianism and classical liberalism. He wrote extensively on the concept of value and how it is just a state of mind.

Remembered as "the Greatest Hungarian,” István Széchenyi was a reformer and author who had initially fought against Napoleon I. He had served as the minister of public works and transport and improved his country’s waterways and roadways. Charged with sedition against Austria’s reign over Hungary, he later committed suicide.