What Happened in April 1794

Historical Events

  • Apr 21 NYC formally declares coast of Ellis Island publicly owned, so they can build forts to protect NYC from British
  • Apr 30 The Battle of Boulou is fought, in which French forces defeated the Spanish under General Union.

Famous Birthdays

  • Apr 9 Theobald Boehm, German inventor of the modern flute, born in Munich, Germany (d. 1881)

Person of interestMatthew C. Perry

Apr 10 Matthew C. Perry, Commodore of the United States Navy who opened Japan to Western influence and trade, born in Newport, Rhode Island (d. 1858)

Commodore of the US Navy Matthew C. Perry
Commodore of the US Navy
Matthew C. Perry
  • Apr 11 Edward Everett, American statesman and orator, born in Dorchester, Massachusetts (d. 1865)
  • Apr 12 Germinal P Dandelin, Belgian mathematician (geometry)
  • Apr 15 Jean Pierre Flourens, French physiologist (d. 1867)
  • Apr 17 Carl Friedrich Philipp von Martius, German botanist and explorer, born in Erlangen, Germany (d. 1868)
  • Apr 23 Wei Yuan, Chinese scholar and geographer of Qing Dynasty, born in Shaoyang, China (d. 1856)

Famous Deaths


Person of interestGeorges Danton

Apr 5 Georges Danton, French politician and revolutionary (1st president of the Committee of Public Safety during the French Revolution), executed by guillotine at 34

Politician and Revolutionary Georges Danton
Politician and Revolutionary
Georges Danton
  • Apr 8 Marie-Jean-Antoine-Nicholas-Caritat, mathematician dies
  • Apr 13 Nicolas Chamfort, French writer (b. 1741)
  • Apr 18 Charles Pratt, 1st Earl Camden, Lord Chancellor of Great Britain (b. 1714)
  • Apr 23 Guillaume-Chrétien de Lamoignon de Malesherbes, French lawyer and statesman, executed at 72
  • Apr 27 William Jones, British orientalist and jurist, dies at 47