On This Day

What Happened in July 1793

Historical Events

  • Jul 20 Scottish explorer Alexander Mackenzie completes the first European east-to-west crossing of America north of Mexico
  • Jul 22 Alexander Mackenzie reaches the Pacific Ocean, becoming the first Euro-American to complete a transcontinental crossing of Canada
  • Jul 23 The Prussians conquer Mainz
  • Jul 24 France passes 1st copyright law
  • Jul 29 John Graves Simcoe decides to build a fort and settlement at Toronto, having sailed into the bay

Famous Birthdays

  • Jul 2 Antoine Prumier, French harpist and composer, born in Paris (d. 1868)
  • Jul 4 Franz Pecháček, Austrian-German composer, born in Vienna, Austria (d. 1840)
  • Jul 5 Pavel Ivanovich Pestel, Russian officer, born in Moscow, Russia (d. 1826)
  • Jul 6 Jacob de Kempenaer, Dutch lawyer and Minister of Internal Affairs (1848-49), born in Amsterdam (d. 1870)
  • Jul 13 John Clare, English poet (Poems Descriptive of Rural Life and Scenery), born in Peterborough, Northamptonshire, England (d. 1864)
  • Jul 20 Aleksander Fredro, Polish poet and comedy writer (Pan Jowiolski), born in Surochów, Poland (d. 1876)
  • Jul 23 Joseph Hartmann Stuntz, Swiss composer, born in Arlesheim, Switzerland (d. 1859)
  • Jul 30 Joseph-François Snel, Belgian composer, born in Brussels, Belgium (d. 1861)

Famous Deaths


MurderJean-Paul Marat

Jul 13 Jean-Paul Marat, French journalist and revolutionary (Friend of the People periodical), is murdered by Charlotte Corday in a bath at 50

Revolutionary and Journalist Jean-Paul Marat
Revolutionary and Journalist
Jean-Paul Marat
  • Jul 14 Jacques Cathelineau, French royalist, dies in battle at 44
  • Jul 17 Charlotte Corday, French revolutionary who murdered Jean-Paul Marat in a bath, is guillotined at 24
  • Jul 21 Bruni d'Entrecasteaux, French explorer (b. 1739)

Person of interestRoger Sherman

Jul 23 Roger Sherman, American lawyer and Founding Father of the United States (Declaration of Independence), dies of typhoid fever at 72

Founding Father of the United States Roger Sherman
Founding Father of the United States
Roger Sherman


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