Jan 8 Philip Astley, English 'Father of the Modern Circus', born in Newcastle-under-Lyme, England (d. 1814) Jan 15 Eugene Godecharle, Belgian violinist and composer, born in Brussels, Belgium (d. 1798) Jan 24 Anne, Duchess of Cumberland and Strathearn (d. 1808) Jan 26 Johann Friedrich Ludwig Sievers, German composer, born in Hanover (d. 1806) 1741 Famous Birthdays by Year 1743