Famous People Who Died In 1790

Benjamin Franklin is considered one of the founding fathers of the United States as he was a signer of both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. He was a writer, politician, scientist, inventor, civic activist, an accomplished diplomat and much more. He is a key figure in the history of physics for his discoveries and theories regarding electricity.

Widely considered The Father of Economics, Adam Smith was a Scottish philosopher and economist. A pioneer of political economy, Adam Smith played a major role during the Scottish Enlightenment. His book The Wealth of Nations is regarded as the first modern work of economics and a forerunner of today's academic discipline of economics.

Joseph II reigned as the Holy Roman Emperor from 1765, and as the sole ruler of the Habsburg lands from 1780, until 1790. Son of Empress Maria Theresa and Emperor Francis I, and brother of Marie Antoinette, he laid down policies now known as Josephinism. He died without heirs.

Physician, clergyman, and statesman Lyman Hall was one of the three delegates of the Congress from Georgia and one of four doctors to sign the United States Declaration of Independence. He also served as Governor of Georgia for a year and co-founded the University of Georgia before resuming his medical practice. Hall County in north central Georgia is named after him.

The Dutch Socrates, François Hemsterhuis is best remembered for his works on aesthetics and moral philosophy. One of the first Dutch authors to represent the Enlightenment, he was also one of the pioneers of Romanticism in the Netherlands. His best-known works, such as Sophyle and Alexis, were all authored in French.

Apart from being a prominent Scottish physician, William Cullen was also a main pillar of the Scottish Enlightenment. Not only did he treat luminaries such as philosopher David Hume, but he also treated the poor free of cost. A University of Edinburgh professor of medicine, he was also a Royal Society Fellow.

Japanese ukiyo-e artist Ippitsusai Bunchō is most noted for producing yakusha-e actor prints in narrow hosoban dimensions. He is credited, along with Katsukawa Shunshō, for pioneering realistic depictions of kabuki actors. The two produced the three-volume Ehon butai ōgi that depicted prominent kabuki actors of the day on ōgi hand fans. Bunchō also created bijin-ga prints of female beauties.

Jean-Baptiste Krumpholz was a Czech harpist and composer. He is best remembered for composing sonatas and concertos for harp and chamber music. Apart from working as a composer, Jean-Baptiste Krumpholz also worked alongside Jean Henri Naderman, one of Paris' leading harp-makers, towards revamping the construction of the harp. 

The 7th ruler of the 12th dynasty, Amenemhat IV was perhaps the son, grandson, or stepson of pharaoh Amenemhat III, whom he initially served as a co-regent. He also completed the Temple of Medinet Madi. Heirless, he was succeeded by his half-sister or aunt Sobeknefru, the first female Egyptian ruler in 1500 years.

William Roy was a Scottish surveyor, military engineer, and antiquarian. An innovator, Roy was successful in applying newly emerging technologies and new scientific discoveries to the geodetic mapping of Great Britain, which is often called Roy's Map of Scotland. William Roy also played a major role in the establishment of the Ordnance Survey, Great Britain's national mapping agency.