Major Events
- Mar 2 Long-distance communication speeds up with the unveiling of a semaphore machine in Paris
- May 3 Constitution of May 3 is proclaimed by the Great Sejm (Parliament) of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, becoming the 1st modern constitution in Europe
- Sep 3 French Revolution: The new French Constitution, declaring France a constitutional monarchy, is passed by the National Assembly
- Nov 26 1st US cabinet meeting, 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.
- Dec 4 Britain's "The Observer" is first published, the oldest Sunday newspaper in the world
- Dec 15 US Bill of Rights ratified when Virginia gives its approval, becomes amendments 1-10 of the US constitution
- More 1791 Events
1791 in Music
James Buchanan
Samuel Morse
Michael Faraday
Théodore Géricault
Charles BabbageMore People Born in 1791
John Wesley
Comte de Mirabeau
Francis Hopkinson
Wolfgang Amadeus MozartMore 1791 Deaths
Articles About 1791
Prince of Wales Gallops Out of Horseracing After Scandal
Once regarded as the ‘first gentleman of Europe’, the lifestyle of a former Prince of Wales caused revulsion, starting with a horseracing scandal on this day.October 20
First US Cabinet Meeting
George Washington and his CabinetNovember 26
First Issue of The Observer
First issue of The Observer Sunday newspaper in 1791December 4
Mozart, the Incomparable Musical Genius
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, a musical genius who composed over 600 works in his short lifetime, died mysteriously on this day and was buried unceremoniously.December 5
Bill of Rights
The bill of rights as it was created on September 25, 1789December 15
Famous Weddings in 1791
- Sep 6 Emma, Lady Hamilton (26) marries Sir William Hamilton (60) at St Marylebone Parish Church in London
- Oct 1 Prince William Frederick (later William V, King of Netherlands) marries his cousin Princess Wilhelmina of Prussia
- Oct 31 King Gustav IV Adolf of Sweden (18) marries Frederica of Baden (16) at Drottningholm Palace for the second time (1st by proxy) (divorced 1812)
Ludwig van Beethoven
George Washington
Louis XVI
William Pitt the Younger