Famous People Who Died In 1808

Johan Christian Fabricius was a Danish zoologist. He specialized in "Insecta", which at that time included all insects, arachnids, crustaceans, and other anthropoids. He studied under the renowned Swedish zoologist Carl Linnaeus and went on to become one of the most important entomologists of the 18th century. He is credited to have named nearly 10,000 species of animals. 

The 28th sultan of the Ottoman Empire, Selim III was a ruler who believed in modern reforms. A talented poet and composer of Ottoman music, he introduced the nizam-ı cedid, a set of new reforms. He redefined his kingdom’s military strategies and taxation system and launched embassies in Europe.

Russian artist Fyodor Rokotov is best remembered for his Rococo-inspired chamber portraits. Born into serfdom, he surprised everyone with his classy art that didn’t show any sign of his humble beginnings. He also served as a court painter for Peter III and often painted portraits of Catherine II.

Spanish botanist José Celestino Mutis had initially studied medicine and served as the royal physician of Ferdinand VI. While working in South America later, he studied the medicinal properties of plants. He also built a massive botanical garden and penned a treatise that contained over 6,000 illustrations of plants.

John Home was a Scottish author, soldier, and minister. He is best remembered for his play Douglas, which was used as a school text in Scotland until World War II. Home is also credited with co-founding the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 1783. John Home is among the 16 Scottish writers whose faces have been carved on the Scott Monument.

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.

Gaétan Vestris was a French ballet dancer who served as a dancing master to the last King of France Louis XVI at the Paris Opéra. A composer of ballets, Gaétan Vestris was extremely popular and successful. He retired in favor of Jean Georges Noverre, who went on to become a great balletmaster.

Thomas Thorild was a Swedish poet, philosopher, critic, and feminist. He is best remembered for promoting women's rights and gender equality. Thorild was popular among women not only for his ideas of gender equality but also for his good looks. Thomas Thorild also served as a librarian and professor at the University of Greifswald.

Pierre Jean Georges Cabanis was a French freemason, physiologist, and materialist philosopher. An early proponent of evolution, Cabanis is credited with influencing the work of French naturalist Jean-Baptiste Lamarck. Pierre Jean Georges Cabanis made a statement on natural selection much before Charles Darwin's theory of evolution.