Claim profile
1590–1599

The 1590s

Whose working lives fell in the 1590s. Books are measured from 1800 and readers from 2015, so for this period we can say who lived then, not who was talked about then.

Lived then

The most notable people whose working lives fell in the 1590s, ranked where Wikipedia coverage and readership agree.

  1. 1William ShakespeareWilliam Shakespeare1564–1616 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Writers22 decades
  2. 2Galileo GalileiGalileo Galilei1564–1642 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Scientists22 decades
  3. 3Lope de VegaLope de Vega1562–1635 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Writers22 decades
  4. 4Francis BaconFrancis Bacon1561–1626 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Academics22 decades
  5. 5Feodor I of RussiaFeodor I of Russia1557–1598 · Politiciansnot measured—
  6. 6Elizabeth BáthoryElizabeth Báthory1560–1614 · Historical Figures0 decades
  7. 7Luis de GóngoraLuis de Góngora1561–1627 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Writers22 decades
  8. 8Christopher MarloweChristopher Marlowe1564–1593 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Writers22 decades
  9. 9Matthias, Holy Roman EmperorMatthias, Holy Roman Emperor1557–1619 · 🇦🇹 Austria · Politiciansnot measured—
  10. 10Aloysius GonzagaAloysius Gonzaga1568–1591 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Religious Figures22 decades
  11. 11Anne HathawayAnne Hathaway1556–1623 · 🇺🇸 United States21 decades
  12. 12Johann Tserclaes, Count of TillyJohann Tserclaes, Count of Tilly1559–1632 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  13. 13Annibale CarracciAnnibale Carracci1560–1609 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists22 decades
  14. 14François de MalherbeFrançois de Malherbe1555–1628 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers18 decades
  15. 15NurhaciNurhaci1559–1626 · Historical Figures4 decades
  16. 16William AdamsWilliam Adams1564–1620 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Historical Figures22 decades
  17. 17YasukeYasukeborn 1555 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Religious Figures1 decades
  18. 18Carlo MadernoCarlo Maderno1556–1629 · 🇨🇭 Switzerland · Architects22 decades
  19. 19Gabrielle d'EstréesGabrielle d'Estrées1573–1599 · 🇫🇷 France22 decades
  20. 20Pieter Brueghel the YoungerPieter Brueghel the Younger1564–1638 · Artists0 decades
  21. 21John DowlandJohn Dowland1563–1626 · Musicians13 decades
  22. 22Beatrice CenciBeatrice Cenci1577–1599 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Historical Figures22 decades
  23. 23Maximilien de Béthune, Duke of SullyMaximilien de Béthune, Duke of Sully1560–1641 · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians22 decades
  24. 24Joseph CalasanzJoseph Calasanz1556–1648 · Educators21 decades
  25. 25Albert VII, Archduke of AustriaAlbert VII, Archduke of Austria1559–1621 · 🇦🇹 Austria22 decades
  26. 26GGGiovanni Gabrieli1557–1612 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musicians17 decades
  27. 27Orazio GentileschiOrazio Gentileschi1563–1639 · Artists17 decades
  28. 28Federico BorromeoFederico Borromeo1564–1631 · Religious Figures22 decades
  29. 29Charles Emmanuel I, Duke of SavoyCharles Emmanuel I, Duke of Savoy1562–1630 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  30. 30Infanta Catherine Michelle of SpainInfanta Catherine Michelle of Spain1567–1597 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Politicians0 decades
  31. 31Agostino CarracciAgostino Carracci1557–1602 · Artists22 decades
  32. 32Michael the BraveMichael the Brave1558–1601 · Historical Figures2 decades
  33. 33Wanli EmperorWanli Emperor1563–1620 · 🇨🇳 China · Historical Figures0 decades
  34. 34Dong QichangDong Qichang1555–1636 · Artists4 decades
  35. 35Jacopo PeriJacopo Peri1561–1633 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musicians22 decades
  36. 36Jan Pieterszoon SweelinckJan Pieterszoon Sweelinck1562–1621 · Musicians0 decades
  37. 37Ludovico CarracciLudovico Carracci1555–1619 · Artists14 decades
  38. 38Catherine de BourbonCatherine de Bourbon1559–1604 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers22 decades
  39. 39Maximilian III, Archduke of AustriaMaximilian III, Archduke of Austria1558–1618 · Models0 decades
  40. 40Ishida MitsunariIshida Mitsunari1559–1600 · 🇯🇵 Japan0 decades
  41. 41Lawrence of BrindisiLawrence of Brindisi1559–1619 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Politicians22 decades
  42. 42Francisco PachecoFrancisco Pacheco1564–1644 · Artists22 decades
  43. 43Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of SalisburyRobert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury1563–1612 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Politiciansnot measured—
  44. 44Sophie of Mecklenburg-GüstrowSophie of Mecklenburg-Güstrow1557–1631 · Historical Figures0 decades
  45. 45Paulo MikiPaulo Miki1564–1597 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Religious Figuresnot measured—
  46. 46Hans Leo HasslerHans Leo Hassler1564–1612 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Musicians12 decades
  47. 47Hendrik GoltziusHendrik Goltzius1558–1617 · Artists0 decades
  48. 48Thomas HarriotThomas Harriot1560–1621 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Scientists7 decades
  49. 49Vincenzo GonzagaVincenzo Gonzaga1562–16120 decades
  50. 50Anne of Austria, Queen of PolandAnne of Austria, Queen of Poland1573–1598 · Historical Figures22 decades
  51. 51Henry BriggsHenry Briggs1561–1630 · Academics17 decades
  52. 52Jacobus ArminiusJacobus Arminius1560–1609 · 🇳🇱 Netherlands · Academics0 decades
  53. 53Dmitry of UglichDmitry of Uglich1582–1591 · Politicians0 decades
  54. 54NaresuanNaresuan1555–1605 · Historical Figures3 decades
  55. 55Edward KelleyEdward Kelley1555–15903 decades
  56. 56SanctoriusSanctorius1561–1636 · Scientists17 decades
  57. 57Stephen BocskaiStephen Bocskai1557–1606 · Politicians0 decades
  58. 58Johannes AlthusiusJohannes Althusius1557–1638 · Academics14 decades
  59. 59Ishikawa GoemonIshikawa Goemon1558–1594 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Writers0 decades
  60. 60Sophia BraheSophia Brahe1559–1643 · Scientists0 decades
  61. 61Henry II, Duke of LorraineHenry II, Duke of Lorraine1563–1624 · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures5 decades
  62. 62Thomas CavendishThomas Cavendish1560–159214 decades
  63. 63Hamnet ShakespeareHamnet Shakespeare1585–1596 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Writers0 decades
  64. 64Thomas KydThomas Kyd1558–1594 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Writers16 decades
  65. 65Christian I, Elector of SaxonyChristian I, Elector of Saxony1560–159122 decades
  66. 66Cornelis van HaarlemCornelis van Haarlem1562–1638 · Artists0 decades
  67. 67Guru ArjanGuru Arjan1563–1606 · 🇮🇳 India · Writers6 decades
  68. 68Jodocus Hondius IJodocus Hondius I1563–1612 · Scientistsnot measured—
  69. 69John HaringtonJohn Harington1560–1612 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Writers22 decades
  70. 70Thomas MorleyThomas Morley1559–1602 · Musicians22 decades
  71. 71Katō KiyomasaKatō Kiyomasa1562–1611 · 🇯🇵 Japan0 decades
  72. 72Isaac CasaubonIsaac Casaubon1559–1614 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics18 decades
  73. 73George ChapmanGeorge Chapman1559–1634 · Writers22 decades
  74. 74John BullJohn Bull1562–1628 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Musicians22 decades
  75. 75Xu GuangqiXu Guangqi1562–1633 · Politicians8 decades
  76. 76Cornelis de HoutmanCornelis de Houtman1565–1599 · Historical Figures0 decades
  77. 77Konishi YukinagaKonishi Yukinaga1558–1600 · 🇯🇵 Japan0 decades
  78. 78Philip Howard, 20th Earl of ArundelPhilip Howard, 20th Earl of Arundel1557–1595 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Politiciansnot measured—
  79. 79Louise de ColignyLouise de Coligny1555–1620 · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures21 decades
  80. 80Mary SidneyMary Sidney1561–1621 · Writers13 decades
  81. 81Hosokawa GraciaHosokawa Gracia1563–1600 · 🇯🇵 Japan0 decades
  82. 82Irina GodunovaIrina Godunova1557–16030 decades
  83. 83Abdul Rahim Khan-I-KhanaAbdul Rahim Khan-I-Khana1556–1626 · Writersnot measured—
  84. 84Cesare d'Este, Duke of ModenaCesare d'Este, Duke of Modena1562–1628 · Politicians0 decades
  85. 85Gunilla BielkeGunilla Bielke1568–1597 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Historical Figures0 decades
  86. 86Jan Huyghen van LinschotenJan Huyghen van Linschoten1563–1611 · Writers0 decades
  87. 87Johann ArndtJohann Arndt1555–1621 · Academics21 decades
  88. 88Maria NagayaMaria Nagaya1562–16080 decades
  89. 89Fukushima MasanoriFukushima Masanori1561–1624 · 🇯🇵 Japan0 decades
  90. 90Abraham BloemaertAbraham Bloemaert1564–1651 · Artists0 decades
  91. 91Hosokawa TadaokiHosokawa Tadaoki1563–1646 · 🇯🇵 Japan0 decades
  92. 92Naoe KanetsuguNaoe Kanetsugu1560–1620 · 🇯🇵 Japan0 decades
  93. 93Kara Mehmed PaşaKara Mehmed Paşa1557–1619 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Politiciansnot measured—
  94. 94Jan Joosten van LodensteijnJan Joosten van Lodensteijn1556–1623 · 🇳🇱 Netherlands · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  95. 95Cesare RipaCesare Ripa1555–1622 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers16 decades
  96. 96Katagiri KatsumotoKatagiri Katsumoto1556–1615 · 🇯🇵 Japan0 decades
  97. 97Francis CaraccioloFrancis Caracciolo1563–1608 · Religious Figures0 decades
  98. 98Duke Heinrich Julius I, Duke of Brunswick-LüneburgDuke Heinrich Julius I, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg1564–1613 · Writers22 decades
  99. 99Pietro BerniniPietro Bernini1562–1629 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists0 decades
  100. 100Ii NaomasaIi Naomasa1561–1602 · 🇯🇵 Japan0 decades

How this is measured

  • Placing people in time. Each person belongs to the century in which they were most active — around age 35, and never after their death.
  • Who ranks highest. Within a century, people are ranked where two independent signals agree: how many of the world’s Wikipedia language editions cover them, and how many people actually read about them. Article counts alone can be lifted by a person’s own circle; readers cannot.
  • Fame in print. The curves count how often a name appears in Google Books from 1800 to 2019, as a share of all the words printed each year, in the person’s own language wherever that corpus exists. Those decades are over, so each measurement is made once and kept.
  • What is left out. A lifetime is measured only from 1820, when there is enough print to judge; the five years after a death are skipped as obituaries; and a name shared with someone equally notable is credited to neither.