Long-distance communication speeds up with the unveiling of a semaphore machine in Paris
Long-distance communication speeds up with the unveiling of a semaphore machine in Paris
Year in History
Explore the major historical events, famous births, and notable deaths that occurred in the year 1791. This year saw 31 significant events. 1 notable figure was born. 2 notable figures passed away.
18th Century1790s
1791 Timeline
Long-distance communication speeds up with the unveiling of a semaphore machine in Paris
Long-distance communication speeds up with the unveiling of a semaphore machine in Paris
Constitution of May 3 is proclaimed by the Great Sejm (Parliament) of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, the first mode
Constitution of May 3 is proclaimed by the Great Sejm (Parliament) of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, the first modern constitution in Europe
The new French Constitution, declaring France a constitutional monarchy, is passed by the National Assembly during the F
The new French Constitution, declaring France a constitutional monarchy, is passed by the National Assembly during the French Revolution
Wolfgang Mozart's dramatic opera "La Clemenza di Tito" premieres at the Estates Theatre in Prague
La clemenza di Tito (The Clemency of Titus), K. 621, is an opera seria in two acts composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart to an Italian libretto by Caterino Mazzolà, after Pietro Metastasio.
Emma, Lady Hamilton (26) marries Sir William Hamilton (60) at St Marylebone Parish Church in London
Emma, Lady Hamilton, was an English model, dancer and actress. She began her career in London's demi-monde, becoming the mistress of a series of wealthy men, culminating in the naval hero Lord...
Mozart's opera "The Magic Flute," with a German libretto by Emanuel Schikaneder, premieres at Schikaneder's Freihaus-The
Mozart's opera "The Magic Flute," with a German libretto by Emanuel Schikaneder, premieres at Schikaneder's Freihaus-Theater auf der Wieden in Vienna, Austria
Prince William Frederick (later William V, King of Netherlands) marries his cousin Princess Wilhelmina of Prussia
Prince William Frederick (later William V, King of Netherlands) marries his cousin Princess Wilhelmina of Prussia
King Gustav IV Adolf of Sweden (18) marries Frederica of Baden (16) at Drottningholm Palace for the second time (1st by
King Gustav IV Adolf of Sweden (18) marries Frederica of Baden (16) at Drottningholm Palace for the second time (1st by proxy) (divorced 1812)
First US cabinet meeting is held at George Washington's home in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Secretary of State Thomas Je
First US cabinet meeting is held at George Washington's home in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson, Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton, Secretary of War Henry Knox, and Attorney General Edmund Randolph attend.
Britain's "The Observer" is first published and becomes the world's oldest Sunday newspaper
Britain's "The Observer" is first published and becomes the world's oldest Sunday newspaper
US Bill of Rights is ratified and becomes Amendments 1 through 10 of the US Constitution when Virginia gives its approva
US Bill of Rights is ratified and becomes Amendments 1 through 10 of the US Constitution when Virginia gives its approval
The Big Bottom Massacre in the Ohio Country begins the Northwest Indian War
The Big Bottom Massacre in the Ohio Country begins the Northwest Indian War
First Bank of the United States is chartered by the United States Congress for a term of 20 years
First Bank of the United States is chartered by the United States Congress for a term of 20 years
1st US internal revenue act (taxing distilled spirits & carriages)
1st US internal revenue act (taxing distilled spirits & carriages)
First Jewish member of US Congress, Israel Jacobs (PA), takes office
First Jewish member of US Congress, Israel Jacobs (PA), takes office
John Stone of Concord, Massachusetts, patents a pile driver
John Stone of Concord, Massachusetts, patents a pile driver
Samuel Mulliken is 1st to obtain more than one US patent
Samuel Mulliken is 1st to obtain more than one US patent
Captain Hopley Yeaton becomes the first commissioned officer in the Revenue Marine, later the Revenue Cutter Service, th
Captain Hopley Yeaton becomes the first commissioned officer in the Revenue Marine, later the Revenue Cutter Service, the forerunner of the modern US Coast Guard
Spaniard Jose Maria Narvaez is the first European to explore the Strait of Georgia (British Columbia)
Spaniard Jose Maria Narvaez is the first European to explore the Strait of Georgia (British Columbia)
Samuel Briggs and his son granted US patent for a nail-making machine
Samuel Briggs and his son granted US patent for a nail-making machine
The Treaty of Sistova is signed, ending the Ottoman-Habsburg wars
The Treaty of Sistova ended the last Austro-Turkish war (1787–91). Brokered by Great Britain, Prussia and the Netherlands, it was signed in Sistova (modern Svishtov) in Bulgaria on 4 August 1791.
Haitian Slave Revolution begins under Vodou priest Boukman
The Haitian Revolution, also known as the Haitian War of Independence, was a successful insurrection by enslaved Africans against French colonial rule in Saint-Domingue, now the sovereign state of...
John Fitch granted US patent for his working steamboat
John Fitch granted US patent for his working steamboat
HMS Pandora sinks after running aground on a reef the previous day on her return from her search for the Bounty and the
HMS Pandora sinks after running aground on a reef the previous day on her return from her search for the Bounty and the mutineers who had taken her
First session of the new French legislative assembly
The French Revolution was a period of political and societal change in France that began with the Estates General of 1789 and ended with the Coup of 18 Brumaire on 9 November 1799.
Battle at Wabash: Indians assault general St Clair, 637 soldiers killed
Battle at Wabash: Indians assault general St Clair, 637 soldiers killed
1st Catholic college in US, Georgetown, opens
1st Catholic college in US, Georgetown, opens
The Chatham Islands are sighted by HMS Chatham, commanded by William Broughton
The Chatham Islands are sighted by HMS Chatham, commanded by William Broughton
Bank of North America opens at Carpenter's Hall, Philadelphia
The President, Directors and Company of the Bank of the United States, commonly known as the First Bank of the United States, was a national bank, chartered for a term of twenty years, by the United...
First US law school is established at the University of Pennsylvania
First US law school is established at the University of Pennsylvania
A traffic regulation creates the first one-way street in New York City
New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States.
James Buchanan is born
James Buchanan is born
John Wesley dies
John Wesley clergyman, known for english clergyman, died on 1791-03-02. John Wesley (28 June [O.S.
Francis Hopkinson dies
Francis Hopkinson, American founding father and jurist, known for american founding father and jurist, died on 1791-05-09.
Events
Constitution of May 3 is proclaimed by the Great Sejm (Parliament) of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, the first mode
Constitution of May 3 is proclaimed by the Great Sejm (Parliament) of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, the first modern constitution in Europe
The new French Constitution, declaring France a constitutional monarchy, is passed by the National Assembly during the F
The new French Constitution, declaring France a constitutional monarchy, is passed by the National Assembly during the French Revolution
Wolfgang Mozart's dramatic opera "La Clemenza di Tito" premieres at the Estates Theatre in Prague
La clemenza di Tito (The Clemency of Titus), K. 621, is an opera seria in two acts composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart to an Italian libretto by Caterino Mazzolà, after Pietro Metastasio.
Emma, Lady Hamilton (26) marries Sir William Hamilton (60) at St Marylebone Parish Church in London
Emma, Lady Hamilton, was an English model, dancer and actress. She began her career in London's demi-monde, becoming the mistress of a series of wealthy men, culminating in the naval hero Lord...
Mozart's opera "The Magic Flute," with a German libretto by Emanuel Schikaneder, premieres at Schikaneder's Freihaus-The
Mozart's opera "The Magic Flute," with a German libretto by Emanuel Schikaneder, premieres at Schikaneder's Freihaus-Theater auf der Wieden in Vienna, Austria
Prince William Frederick (later William V, King of Netherlands) marries his cousin Princess Wilhelmina of Prussia
Prince William Frederick (later William V, King of Netherlands) marries his cousin Princess Wilhelmina of Prussia
King Gustav IV Adolf of Sweden (18) marries Frederica of Baden (16) at Drottningholm Palace for the second time (1st by
King Gustav IV Adolf of Sweden (18) marries Frederica of Baden (16) at Drottningholm Palace for the second time (1st by proxy) (divorced 1812)
First US cabinet meeting is held at George Washington's home in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Secretary of State Thomas Je
First US cabinet meeting is held at George Washington's home in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson, Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton, Secretary of War Henry Knox, and Attorney General Edmund Randolph attend.
Britain's "The Observer" is first published and becomes the world's oldest Sunday newspaper
Britain's "The Observer" is first published and becomes the world's oldest Sunday newspaper
US Bill of Rights is ratified and becomes Amendments 1 through 10 of the US Constitution when Virginia gives its approva
US Bill of Rights is ratified and becomes Amendments 1 through 10 of the US Constitution when Virginia gives its approval
The Big Bottom Massacre in the Ohio Country begins the Northwest Indian War
The Big Bottom Massacre in the Ohio Country begins the Northwest Indian War
First Bank of the United States is chartered by the United States Congress for a term of 20 years
First Bank of the United States is chartered by the United States Congress for a term of 20 years
1st US internal revenue act (taxing distilled spirits & carriages)
1st US internal revenue act (taxing distilled spirits & carriages)
First Jewish member of US Congress, Israel Jacobs (PA), takes office
First Jewish member of US Congress, Israel Jacobs (PA), takes office
John Stone of Concord, Massachusetts, patents a pile driver
John Stone of Concord, Massachusetts, patents a pile driver
Samuel Mulliken is 1st to obtain more than one US patent
Samuel Mulliken is 1st to obtain more than one US patent
Captain Hopley Yeaton becomes the first commissioned officer in the Revenue Marine, later the Revenue Cutter Service, th
Captain Hopley Yeaton becomes the first commissioned officer in the Revenue Marine, later the Revenue Cutter Service, the forerunner of the modern US Coast Guard
Spaniard Jose Maria Narvaez is the first European to explore the Strait of Georgia (British Columbia)
Spaniard Jose Maria Narvaez is the first European to explore the Strait of Georgia (British Columbia)
Samuel Briggs and his son granted US patent for a nail-making machine
Samuel Briggs and his son granted US patent for a nail-making machine
The Treaty of Sistova is signed, ending the Ottoman-Habsburg wars
The Treaty of Sistova ended the last Austro-Turkish war (1787–91). Brokered by Great Britain, Prussia and the Netherlands, it was signed in Sistova (modern Svishtov) in Bulgaria on 4 August 1791.
Haitian Slave Revolution begins under Vodou priest Boukman
The Haitian Revolution, also known as the Haitian War of Independence, was a successful insurrection by enslaved Africans against French colonial rule in Saint-Domingue, now the sovereign state of...
John Fitch granted US patent for his working steamboat
John Fitch granted US patent for his working steamboat
HMS Pandora sinks after running aground on a reef the previous day on her return from her search for the Bounty and the
HMS Pandora sinks after running aground on a reef the previous day on her return from her search for the Bounty and the mutineers who had taken her
First session of the new French legislative assembly
The French Revolution was a period of political and societal change in France that began with the Estates General of 1789 and ended with the Coup of 18 Brumaire on 9 November 1799.
Battle at Wabash: Indians assault general St Clair, 637 soldiers killed
Battle at Wabash: Indians assault general St Clair, 637 soldiers killed
1st Catholic college in US, Georgetown, opens
1st Catholic college in US, Georgetown, opens
The Chatham Islands are sighted by HMS Chatham, commanded by William Broughton
The Chatham Islands are sighted by HMS Chatham, commanded by William Broughton
Bank of North America opens at Carpenter's Hall, Philadelphia
The President, Directors and Company of the Bank of the United States, commonly known as the First Bank of the United States, was a national bank, chartered for a term of twenty years, by the United...
First US law school is established at the University of Pennsylvania
First US law school is established at the University of Pennsylvania
A traffic regulation creates the first one-way street in New York City
New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States.
Famous Births
Notable Deaths
Frequently Asked Questions
- What happened in 1791?
- In 1791, there were 31 significant historical events. Notable events include Long-distance communication speeds up with the unveiling of a semaphore machine in Paris, Constitution of May 3 is proclaimed by the Great Sejm (Parliament) of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, the first mode, The new French Constitution, declaring France a constitutional monarchy, is passed by the National Assembly during the F.
- Who was born in 1791?
- 1 notable figure was born in 1791, including James Buchanan is born.
- Who died in 1791?
- 2 notable figures passed away in 1791, including John Wesley dies, Francis Hopkinson dies.