Historical Figures Born in 1726

  • Jan 4 Cornelis Ploos van Amstel, Dutch engraver and art collector (d. 1798)
  • Jan 17 Hugh Mercer, Scottish military officer (fought in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War), born in Rosehearty, Scotland (d. 1777)
  • Jan 18 Henry, Prince of Prussia and diplomat (led armies during Silesian Wars and the Seven Years' War), born in Berlin, Prussia (d. 1802)
  • Feb 15 Abraham Clark, American politician, signed US Declaration of Independence, born in Elizabethtown, New Jersey (d. 1794)
  • Mar 8 Richard Howe, British admiral, born in London (d. 1799)
  • Apr 8 Lewis Morris, American landowner and farmer (signed US Declaration of Independence), born in Morrisania, New York (d. 1798)
  • Apr 20 Jozef de Ferraris, French-Austrian general and cartographer, born in Lunéville, France (d. 1814)
  • Apr 26 Pasquale Paoli, Corsican freedom fighter, born in Stretta di Morosaglia, France (d. 1807)
  • May 20 Francis Cotes, English painter (d. 1770)

James HuttonJames Hutton (1726-1797)

Jun 3 Scottish geologist and father of modern geology, born in Edinburgh, Scotland

  • Jun 25 Thomas Pennant, Welsh naturalist, born in Downing, Wales (d. 1798)
  • Aug 7 James Bowdoin, American Revolutionary leader and politician, born in Boston, Massachusetts (d. 1790)
  • Aug 9 Francesco Cetti, Italian Jesuit priest and scientist, born in Mannheim, Germany (d. 1778)
  • Oct 14 Charles Middleton, 1st Baron Barham, English sailor and politician, born in Leith, Midlothian, Scotland (d. 1813)
  • Oct 16 Daniel Chodowiecki, Polish painter (d. 1801)
  • Nov 20 Oliver Wolcott, American judge, signed US Declaration of Independence, born in Windsor, Connecticut (d. 1797) [NS=Dec 1]
  • Nov 30 Jacques Aliamet, French etcher and engraver, born in Abbeville, France (d. 1788)
  • Dec 1 Eggert Ólafsson, Icelandic explorer, writer (Reise igiennem Island - Travels In Iceland), and language conservationist, born in Svefneyjar, Iceland (d. 1768)
  • Dec 4 William Alexander, Lord Stirling, American general (American Revolutionary War leader), born in NYC, New York (d. 1783)