Year by year · 18th century

1791

1791 in world history: 18 events, 16 births, 3 deaths, 4 works, 3 states founded and 6 that came to an end. 1,285 recorded states existed that year.

Events

  1. 23 April

    Future president James Buchanan is born

    James Buchanan was born in a log cabin in Pennsylvania. The 15th US president, and the only one never to marry, failed to halt the secession of Southern states in 1860 and 1861.

  2. 27 April

    Samuel Morse is born in Massachusetts

    Samuel Morse, painter turned inventor, was born in Charlestown. He developed an electric telegraph and, with Alfred Vail, the code that bears his name.

  3. 3 May

    Poland-Lithuania adopts the Constitution of 3 May

    The Sejm passed Europe's first modern codified national constitution, strengthening the monarchy and ending the liberum veto. Russia and Prussia responded with war and the second partition.

    Lithuania

  4. 21 June

    Louis XVI and his family attempt to flee Paris

    In the night of 20–21 June, King Louis XVI and the royal family tried to leave Paris for Montmédy, where he hoped to regain his freedom. Recognised at Sainte-Menehould, they were stopped and arrested at Varennes-en-Argonne.

    Louis XVIFrench Revolution

  5. 27 August

    Leopold II and Frederick William II issue the Declaration of Pillnitz

    At Pillnitz near Dresden, Frederick William II of Prussia and Emperor Leopold II declared their joint support for King Louis XVI against the French Revolution. The declaration agitated French revolutionaries and helped bring on the War of the First Coalition.

    Leopold IIFrederick William IIFrench Revolution

  6. 30 September

    Mozart's The Magic Flute premieres in Vienna

    Die Zauberflöte opened at the Theater auf der Wieden with Mozart conducting. It was a popular success, and he died nine weeks later at the age of 35.

    Vienna

  7. 4 November

    The Northwestern Confederacy destroys St Clair's army on the Wabash

    The Northwestern Confederacy of Native Americans destroyed a United States army under St Clair in the Northwest Territory. Also called the Battle of a Thousand Slain, it has been described as the most decisive defeat in the history of the American military.

    Northwest Indian War

  8. 4 December

    The Observer is first published

    The first issue of The Observer appeared in London. It is the world's oldest Sunday newspaper still in publication.

    London

  9. 5 December

    Mozart dies in Vienna aged 35

    Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart died after a short illness, leaving his Requiem unfinished. In a career of barely three decades he wrote more than 600 works, including The Marriage of Figaro and The Magic Flute.

    Vienna

  10. 15 December

    The Bill of Rights is ratified

    Virginia's approval gave the first ten amendments to the US Constitution the required three-quarters of states. They guarantee freedoms of speech, religion, press and assembly, and rights to due process.

    Virginia

  11. Event

    Flight to Varennes

    The Flight to Varennes was the attempted escape of King Louis XVI, Marie Antoinette and their children from Paris on the night of 20–21 June 1791.

  12. Event

    Constitutional Act 1791

    The Constitutional Act of 1791 was a British law that divided the Province of Quebec into Upper Canada, mainly English-speaking, and Lower Canada, mainly French-speaking.

  13. Siege

    Qajar capture of Shiraz

    The Qajar capture of Shiraz was the taking of the Zand capital by Agha Mohammad Khan Qajar in 1791.

ProfileState1103 states with a known seat in 1791Open the atlas at 1791 →

In the profiles

Wars and longer events

Born in 1791 16

Died in 1791 3

Works 4

States founded 3

States that came to an end 6

All years → The 18th century →

Cite this page
APA
The Epoch Institute. (2026). 1791. In The Epoch Institute, Year by Year. https://the-epoch-institute.org/years/1791
MLA
“1791.” The Epoch Institute, Year by Year, The Epoch Institute, 2026, https://the-epoch-institute.org/years/1791. Accessed .
Chicago
The Epoch Institute. “1791.” The Epoch Institute, Year by Year. 2026. https://the-epoch-institute.org/years/1791.
Harvard
The Epoch Institute (2026) ‘1791’, The Epoch Institute, Year by Year. Available at: https://the-epoch-institute.org/years/1791 (Accessed: ).