What Happened in April 1785

Historical Events

  • Apr 20 Thomas Warton appointed British Poet Laureate by King George III

Event of interestEvent of Interest

Apr 21 Catherine II of Russia confers on the nobility the "Charter to the Nobility", increasing further the power of the landed oligarchs

Empress of Russia Catherine the Great
Empress of Russia
Catherine the Great

Famous Birthdays

  • Apr 1 J H Ferdinand Olivier, German painter
  • Apr 4 Bettina von Arnim, German writer and composer of the Romantic era (This Book Belongs to the King), born in Frankfurt, Germany (d. 1859)
  • Apr 9 Sibrandus Stratingh, Dutch physician and chemist (electric car), born in Adorp, Netherlands (d. 1841)
  • Apr 19 Alexandre Pierre Francois Boely, composer

Person of interestJohn James Audubon

Apr 26 John James Audubon, American bird watcher and artist (The Birds of America), born in Les Cayes, Haiti (d. 1851)

Ornithologist John James Audubon
Ornithologist
John James Audubon

Famous Deaths

  • Apr 14 William Whitehead, English writer and poet, British Poet Laureate (1757-85), dies at about 70
  • Apr 26 Karl Siegmund von Seckendorff, German composer, dies at 40
  • Apr 30 Frederick Philipse III, American land owner (Bronx, Westch & Putnam), dies at 65