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1731 to 1740

1731

born ..... Catherine Greene .....  who invented a method for separating cotton from its seed. She entrusted the fabrication of the machine to her boarder, Eli Whitney, who nearly abandoned the project several times.  Catherine supported and encouraged him but women were not allowed by law to apply for patents and so Whitney received credit for the invention of the cotton gin. Catherine died  c 1794

1732

born ..... Julie de Lespinasse .....  the illegitimate daughter of the Comtesse d'Alban who was educated in a convent. In 1764 she established her own salon after she had been dismissed by Madame du Deffand in whose company she had been for ten years. She became the darling of the Parisian intellectuals and adopted the maxim " I love to live and I live to love".  Her last and most ardent love affair was with the court favourite, Comte de Guibert. She died in 1762 at the young age of 30 years

1736

born ..... Ann Lee .....  known as Mother Ann, the leader of a sect called The United Society of Believers in Christ's Second Coming, commonly called " Shakers". She was the daughter of a blacksmith from Manchester (England) and, along with eight disciples who believed that she was Christ re-born, went to America in 1774 to preach against war, oaths and sexual relations. This caused a lot of antagonism against her on her New England tour in 1781. She had joined the sect after her four children died in infancy and she believed that this was retribution for her sexual desires. Absolute celibacy was demanded of all members of the sect and consequently this meant that no children were produced and so the sect almost died out. The Shakers , so called because of their ecstatic religious dancing, are credited with inventing the threshing machine and the clothes peg. They were also America's professional herbalists and the first to grow and sell medicinal herbs on a large scale. They cultivated about 150 varieties in all and were soon well known for the high quality of their plants. Their influence lasted for over one hundred years and as a result the interest in herbs in America continued without interruption. Mother Ann died on September 8th 1784 in New England ..... and .....

born (c) ..... Sarah Baker ..... English theatre manager who assumed control of her mother's theatrical company and established a touring circuit around England. Her mother retired in 1777 and Sarah then introduced Shakespeare and Sheridan to the company's repertoire and from 1789 set about building permanent theatres in the towns which they visited throughout England

1737

born ..... Frances Abington neé Barton ..... English actress and milliner who made her first appearance on stage at the Haymarket Theatre in 1755.  In 1759 she married her music teacher but the marriage did not work out and she subsequently returned to Drury Lane under David Garrick where she excelled in Shakespearian heroic and romantic roles.  She developed a flare for fashion due to her milliner training in Paris and her 'Abington cap' became very popular

1738

born ..... Elspeth Buchan neé Simpson ..... Scottish founder of the fanatical religious sect known as the Buchanites and announced herself to her followers as the Woman of Revelations 12.  She was supported by a local minister and had 45 converts but eventually the people of Irvine attacked her home and expelled the sect from the town. They settled in Dumfriesshire and as they did not believe in marriage led a holy life like brothers and sisters.  They also did not believe in regular paid employment. Gradually the numbers were reduced through death and Elspeth herself died in 1791

1739

born ..... Anna Amalia ..... daughter of the Duke of Brunswick who became Duchess of Saxe-Weimar and whilst still a teenager was a wise ruler. After only two years of marriage she became a widow and acted as regent for her young son Charles Augustus, ruling from 1758 to 1775, a period which covered the Seven Years War. When the war was over she devoted herself to the education of her son and to the public affairs of the duchy.  She was a patron of German literature, founded the Weimar Museum and in 1775, when her son became of age, she withdrew from public life and turned to studying the arts. She died in 1807

1740

Maria Theresa succeeded to the Austrian dominions of Charles V1 ..... and .....

born ..... Sophie Arnould .....  French opera star who studied singing with Marie Fel and made her debut at the Paris Opera in 1757 where she was its leading soprano for over twenty years. She was also an accomplished actress, trained by Hippolyte Clairon and much praised by David Garrick. She was a lively person in the salons of 18th century Paris where she gained a considerable notoriety. A liaison with the Count of Lauragais, by whom she had three children, caused further scandal and probably contributed to the decline of her career. Her colourful personality also inspired several stage works including the opera 'Sophie Arnould' in 1927.She died in 1802 and in 1837 her memoirs were published. A biography followed in 1857.  To an actress who complained that it was terrible to be so near her fortieth birthday she said " Take courage my dear, and be consoled with the reflection that every day takes you farther away from it "