Russell King Homer's History

On March 31, 1736

The spring of 1736 sits historically in the “interwar” period of the 18th century—a time when the European powers were shifting alliances following the War of the Polish Succession, and the American colonies were expanding rapidly in population, trade, and infrastructure.

In the American Colonies & New York

  • The Founding of Bellevue Hospital: On this exact day, a milestone in American medical history occurred in New York City. The city opened an 80-pound, six-bed public almshouse (a home for the poor and correction facility) on the site where City Hall stands today. Featuring a tiny 25-by-23-foot infirmary overseen by Dr. John Van Beuren, this humble institution evolved over the centuries into Bellevue Hospital, famously recognized as the oldest continuously operating public hospital in the United States.

During the Month of March 1736

In the World & Global Context

  • The Coronation of Nader Shah (March 8): In the Middle East, one of the most powerful military conquerors in Asian history came to power. Nader Shah, the founder of the Afsharid dynasty, was officially crowned Shah of Iran. His reign entirely reshaped the geopolitics of the region, leading to massive military campaigns against the Ottoman and Mughal empires.
  • The Rise of a King in Corsica (March 20): German adventurer Theodor Stephan Freiherr von Neuhoff landed on the island of Corsica. Backed by Corsican rebels fighting for independence from the Republic of Genoa, he was remarkably crowned King Theodore of Corsica a few days later, initiating a brief, bizarre, and short-lived monarchy.

In England

  • The Calm Before the Porteous Riots: In London and Edinburgh, tensions were reaching a boiling point over trade, smuggling, and royal authority. British authorities spent March clamping down heavily on smugglers, a policy that backfired spectacularly just a few weeks later in April 1736 when the famous Porteous Riots erupted in Scotland against the heavy-handedness of the British Town Guard.
  • The Death of the Legal Witch: Parliament was in the final stages of cementing the Witchcraft Act of 1735, a massive legal shift that officially decoupled English law from the supernatural. While it technically went into effect a few months later, the debates during this spring fundamentally changed British law by making it illegal to execute someone for “witchcraft”—instead, it penalized charlatans who claimed to have magical powers for fraud.

In Boston & New England

  • The Shipping and Mercantile Boom: In March 1736, Boston was the busiest seaport and the cultural heart of British North America. The city was deeply preoccupied with maritime commerce, dealing with early spring logistics as merchant ships returned across the Atlantic. Local journals from this period show the Boston selectmen heavily focused on town infrastructure, firefighting regulations, and managing the fluctuating value of Massachusetts “Old Tenor” paper currency.
  • A Theological Pivot: Boston was also sitting on the precipice of a massive religious upheaval. The town’s intellectual elite, including ministers like Charles Chauncy, were actively observing early reports of religious “revivals” happening further west in Northampton under Jonathan Edwards—the spark that would soon explode into the First Great Awakening across New England.

Notable Birthdays in 1736

While no globally household names share the exact birthday of March 31, the early months of 1736 produced an astonishing “vintage” of generational minds who were newborns during this exact period:

  • James Watt (Born January 19, 1736): The Scottish inventor and mechanical engineer whose improvements to the steam engine fundamentally drove the Industrial Revolution was just a two-month-old infant in March 1736.
  • Joseph-Louis Lagrange (Born January 25, 1736): The brilliant Italian-born mathematician and physicist who went on to revolutionize classical mechanics, mathematical analysis, and number theory.
  • Ann Lee (Born February 29, 1736): Born in England just one month prior to this date, she grew up to become the charismatic religious leader of the “Shakers,” eventually emigrating to America to establish her radical communal movement.

Notable Deaths in 1736

  • Giovanni Battista Pergolesi (Died March 16, 1736): A tragic loss to the musical world occurred mid-month when this brilliant Italian Baroque composer, violinist, and dramatist passed away from tuberculosis at the devastatingly young age of 26. He finished his final masterpiece, the famous Stabat Mater, on his deathbed just days prior.
  • Richard van Bleeck (Died March 1736): A prominent Dutch Golden Age painter known for his historical portraits who passed away in London during the early spring.