1731

Events

• 10 Downing Street becomes the official residence of the United Kingdom's Prime Minister when Robert Walpole moves in.

Births

• May 8 - Beilby Porteus, Bishop of London, abolitionist (d. 1809)
• June 21 - Martha Washington, First Lady of the United States (d. 1802)
• October 10 - Henry Cavendish, English scientist (d. 1810)
• November 9 -Benjamin Banneker, surveyor of the District of Columbia (d. 1806)
• November 15 - William Cowper, English poet (d. 1800)
• December 12 - Erasmus Darwin, English scientist and grandfather of Charles Darwin (d. 1802)
• Charles Churchill, English satirical poet (d. 1764)

Deaths

• April 24 - Daniel Defoe, English writer (b. 1660)
• December 29 - Brook Taylor, English mathematician (b. 1685)