Famous People Who Died In 1778

Discover the most famous people died who died in the year 1778. This list includes people like Voltaire, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Carl Linnaeus, William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham, Giovanni Battista Piranesi and many more. This list of celebrities is loosely sorted by popularity. People featured on this list, include philosophers, political leaders, inventors and government officials who died in 1778. This list includes people from France, England, Italy & Sweden and many more countries.
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 1 
Voltaire
(French Historian and Philosopher Known for His Wit and His Pointed Social Critique)
Voltaire
25
Birthdate: November 21, 1694
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Paris, France
Died: May 30
18th-century historian, author, philosopher, and advocate of freedom of speech Voltaire was a leading figure of the French Age of Enlightenment. He often ran into trouble for his criticism of the French nobility and the Roman Catholic Church. He once went to Britain on voluntary exile, fearing imprisonment in France.
 2 
Jean-Jacques Rousseau
(Philosopher, Writer, & Composer Whose Political Philosophy Influenced the Progress of the Age of Enlightenment)
Jean-Jacques Rousseau
30
Birthdate: June 28, 1712
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Geneva, Switzerland
Died: July 2

Jean-Jacques Rousseau was a Genevan philosopher, composer, and writer. His political philosophy influenced aspects of the French Revolution. He also helped develop modern economic, political, and educational thought. His writing inspired a transformation in French drama and poetry. His works also influenced such writers around the world as Tolstoy. His works as a composer were acknowledged by composers like Mozart.

 3 
Carl Linnaeus
(Botanist)
Carl Linnaeus
65
Listed In: Scientists
Birthdate: May 23, 1707
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Linnés Råshults Stiftelse, Älmhult Municipality, Sweden
Died: January 10

Swedish botanist and lecturer Carl Linnaeus, who established the concept of binomial nomenclature, or the system of naming organisms, is also known as the father of modern taxonomy. His system of classification is known as Linnaean taxonomy. He was the first to include humans and apes under the header Anthropomorpha.

 4 
William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham
(Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (1766-68))
William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham
2
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: November 15, 1708
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Westminster, London, England
Died: May 11
 5 
Anna Maria Mozart
(Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's mother)
Anna Maria Mozart
3
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: December 25, 1720
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Saint Gilgen, Austria
Died: July 3
 6 
Giovanni Battista Piranesi
(Italian Classical Archaeologist, Architect, and Artist)
Giovanni Battista Piranesi
3
Birthdate: October 4, 1720
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Venice, Italy
Died: November 9

Italian architect, artist, and archaeologist Giovanni Battista Piranesi is best known for his 16-print series name The Prisons. His remarkable etchings of the famous landmarks of Rome exhibited his unique etching technique, which involved contrasts of light and shade. He made about 2,000 plates throughout his life.

 7 
Laura Bassi
(Italian Physicist)
Laura Bassi
2
Listed In: Scientists
Birthdate: October 29, 1711
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Bologna, Italy
Died: February 20

Known as Bolognese Minerva, Laura Bassi became the first woman physics professor to have taught at a European university, when she started teaching at the University of Bologna. A child prodigy, she excelled in Latin and math at age 5. She was also the first lady with a doctorate in science.

 8 
Weliwita Sri Saranankara Thero
(Monk)
Weliwita Sri Saranankara Thero
0
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: June 19, 1698
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Weliwita, Sri Lanka
Died: July 18
 9 
Thomas Arne
(Composer)
Thomas Arne
1
Listed In: Musicians
Birthdate: March 12, 1710
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: London
Died: March 5
 10 
Claude Louis, Comte de Saint-Germai
(General)
Claude Louis, Comte de Saint-Germai
0
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: April 15, 1707
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Vertamboz, France
Died: January 15
 11 
Ebenezer Kinnersley
(Scientist)
Ebenezer Kinnersley
0
Listed In: Scientists
Birthdate: November 30, 1711
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: England
Died: July 4
 12 
James Hargreaves
(Weaver, carpenter and inventor who was was one of three men responsible for the mechanisation of spinning)
James Hargreaves
1
Birthdate: December 13, 1720
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire, England
Died: April 22
 13 
Charles De Geer
(Swedish Industrialist and Entomologist)
Charles De Geer
0
Listed In: Scientists
Birthdate: January 30, 1720
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Finspång, Sweden
Died: March 7

Charles De Geer was a Swedish entomologist and industrialist. A respected entomologist, De Geer was made a member of the prestigious Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences at the age of 19. In 1748, Charles De Geer was elected a member of the French Academy of Sciences. 

 14 
François Bigot
(Government official)
François Bigot
1
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: January 30, 1703
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Bordeaux, France
Died: January 12
 15 
Joseph Marie Terray
(French Economist, Priest and Controller-General of Finances)
Joseph Marie Terray
0
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: December 9, 1715
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Boën-sur-Lignon, France
Died: February 18

Joseph-Marie Terray was the controller-general of finances toward the end of Louis XV’s reign. He began his career as an ecclesiastical counselor of the Parlement of Paris. His reforms, such as forced loans, were met with general opposition. He was dismissed over allegations of being associated with the Pact of Famine.

 16 
Étienne-Gabriel Morelly
(Novelist)
Étienne-Gabriel Morelly
0
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: 1717 AD
Birthplace: Vitry-le-François, France
Died: 1778 AD
 17 
Philip Livingston
(Politician)
Philip Livingston
1
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: January 15, 1716
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Albany, New York, United States
Died: June 12
 18 
Lekain
(Actor)
Lekain
0
Birthdate: March 31, 1729
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Paris, France
Died: February 8
 19 
Konrad Ekhof
(Actor)
Konrad Ekhof
0
Birthdate: August 12, 1720
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Hamburg, Germany
Died: June 16
 20 
James Relly
(Methodist minister)
James Relly
0
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: 1722 AD
Birthplace: Jeffreston, Wales
Died: April 25
 21 
Jean Claude Gilles Colson
(Actor)
Jean Claude Gilles Colson
1
Birthdate: January 16, 1725
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Paris, France
Died: November 19
 22 
Edward Buncombe
(Plantation owner from the Province of North Carolina who served as a colonel in the North Carolina militia and Continental Army)
Edward Buncombe
0
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: 1742 AD
Birthplace: Saint Kitts
Died: 1778 AD
 23 
Francesca Cuzzoni
(Italian Baroque-Era Operatic Soprano Who Mostly Appeared in Handel's Operas)
Francesca Cuzzoni
1
Listed In: Singers
Birthdate: April 2, 1696
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Parma, Italy
Died: June 19

Baroque-era Italian operatic soprano Francesca Cuzzoni was also known as a major rival of fellow opera singer Faustina Bordoni. Known for her iconic roles such as those of Dalinda in Ariodante and Teofane in Ottone, she immortalized many roles penned by composer George Frideric Handel. She, however, died in poverty.