Apr 7 William Rufus DeVane King, American politician, 13th US Vice President (1853), born in Sampson County, North Carolina (d. 1853) Apr 15 Walter Channing, American physician who was the first to use anesthesia during childbirth, born in Newport, Rhode Island (d. 1876) Apr 16 John Franklin, English rear admiral and explorer (Arctic), born in Spilsby, Lincolnshire, England (d. 1847) Apr 18 Franz Xaver Schnyder von Wartensee, Swiss composer, born in Lucerne, Switzerland (d. 1868) 1785 Famous Birthdays by Year 1787