Famous People Who Died In 1786

Eva Ekeblad was a Swedish countess, agronomist, salon hostess, and scientist. In 1746, she discovered a method to make flour and alcohol from potatoes which earned her popularity. Her discovery made her the first female inductee of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences in 1748.

Gaspar de Portolá was a Spanish military officer. He is best remembered for heading the Portolá expedition, which laid the foundations of prominent Californian cities like Monterey and San Diego. Gaspar de Portolá is also remembered for his service as the first Governor of the Californias from 30 November 1767 to 9 July 1770.

Described as the right hand of Catherine the Great, the Empress of Russia, Praskovya Bruce became Catherine's lady-in-waiting soon after her arrival in Russia, remaining so even after her ascendance to the throne. A close confidant of the empress, she fell from grace when she was caught having sex with one of the queen's latest lovers and was sent away.

One of the finest violinists of 18th-century Germany, František Benda was born to musician parents and began his music career accompanying strolling musicians. He later served as King Frederick the Great’s concertmaster. His music includes symphonies, sonatas, and chamber works. His memoir is an accurate account of the music scene of his time.

Landscape painter Alexander Cozens was the godchild of Russian Emperor Peter I but was often mistaken as his child. Born in Russia, he later moved too England, where he taught painting at Eton and trained luminaries such as the Prince of Wales. He introduced a style of painting landscapes from abstract blots.

Born to a German merchant, Carl Wilhelm Scheele was initially trained as a pharmacist but later switched to chemistry. He began his academic career in Sweden. He is best known for discovering oxygen, apart from countless chemical elements such as barium and chlorine and many organic acids.

Apart from recognizing the volcanic nature of central France’s Auvergne district, French geologist and mineralogist Jean-Étienne Guettard also wrote extensively on the geological aspects of the terrains of France and England. He was the first to make a geological survey of France and study the Paris Basin bedrock.

Jacob Magnus Sprengtporten was a Swedish-Finnish politician and army officer. He is best remembered for his role in the Revolution of 1772, which ended the age of democratic monarchy in Sweden and ushered in the age of absolute monarchy.

John Goodricke was an English astronomer best remembered for his observations of the Demon Star in 1782. The following year, he was honored with the prestigious Copley Medal for his work. In 1786, John Goodricke was made a member of the Royal Society.

Apart from being a renowned astronomer, Alexander Wilson was also a qualified surgeon and once co-owned a type-founding business, too. He pioneered the use of kites in meteorological research and also co-founded the Royal Society of Edinburgh. He has a lunar crater named after him.