Famous People Born In 1787

Joseph von Fraunhofer was a Bavarian optical lens manufacturer and physicist. He is credited with developing diffraction grating and inventing the spectroscope. He is also credited with discovering the Fraunhofer lines, the dark absorption lines produced in the spectrum of the sun. The Fraunhofer Society, Europe's biggest Society for the Advancement of Applied Research, is named in his honor.

Russian explorer and naval officer Otto von Kotzebue is remembered for his pioneering explorations in Oceania and his 3 circumnavigations of the Earth. The second son of German dramatist and diplomat August von Kotzebue, he also penned his travel accounts, which were later translated into English.

Richard Whately was an English logician, academic, rhetorician, economist, theologian, and philosopher. His influential work Elements of Logic, which popularized the study of logic in the United States of America and in Britain, inspired several logicians including Charles Sanders Peirce, who read the book when he was 12 years old.

The third of the four wives of Austrian emperor Franz I, Maria Ludovika of Austria-Este was also the youngest child of Archduke Ferdinand. She received an elite education under strict supervision of her grandmother, Maria Theresa. Though Goethe admired her a lot, he had sworn to never make his admiration public.

Danish philologist and linguist Rasmus Rask is known for pioneering Icelandic grammar. He also taught at the University of Copenhagen. His research later led to the basic law of comparative linguistics, also known as Grimm’s law. He traveled extensively, to places such as Persia, Ceylon, and India, and learned 25 languages and dialects.

Widely regarded as one of the most influential and important monarchs of the Zulu Kingdom, Shaka reigned as the king of the Zulu Kingdom from 1816 to 1828. Through a series of influential and wide-reaching reforms, Shaka was able to re-organize the Zulu military into a formidable force. His life and work inspired the 1986 South African TV series, Shaka Zulu.

Anna Colas Pépin was a Euro-African businesswoman best remembered for her contribution to the Signare community. An influential member of the community, Pépin invested in buildings and on the land of Gorée. She is also remembered for receiving François d'Orléans, Prince of Joinville during his visit to Gorée. The scene, which happened in 1842, is portrayed by Édouard Auguste Nousveaux.

Christian Friedrich was a German physician and statesman. He served as the physician and secretary to Prince Leopold of Saxe-Coburg and eventually became influential in Belgian and British politics. Queen Victoria approved of him, and with her support, he played a major role in British politics. He was raised to the rank of baron by the king of Saxony.

Apart from being a naval surgeon, John Richardson also made a named for himself as an explorer of the Canadian Arctic coast. He was also a talented author of natural history. His accurate surveys eventually got him knighted. Various species of reptiles and mammals have been named in his honor.

François Guizot was a French historian and statesman. He was a key figure in French politics in the years leading to the Revolution of 1848. After serving under the "citizen king" Louis Philippe in several roles, he was made the Prime Minister of France in 1847. He played a critical role in expanding public education. 

Keying, or Qiying, was a Manchu statesman of the Qing dynasty. He had been the viceroy of Liangguang and the minister of personnel, revenue, and other departments. After leaving the negotiations regarding the Arrow War with the British midway, he was forced to commit suicide by the imperial court.