Birthdays in History Apr 1 Fredrik Cygnaeus, Finnish poet/literature critic Apr 24 Charles Ferguson Smith, American Major General (Union Army), born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (d. 1862) Deaths in History Apr 4 Joseph Jerome Le Francais de Lalande, French astronomer, dies a 74 Apr 9 John Opie, English painter (The Murder of Rizzio), dies at 46 Apr 13 Maria Theresa of Naples and Sicily, Holy Roman Empire Empress, dies at 34 1806 On This Day in History 1808