Claim profile
1640–1649

The 1640s

Whose working lives fell in the 1640s. 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 1640s, ranked where Wikipedia coverage and readership agree.

  1. 1RembrandtRembrandt1606–1669 · 🇳🇱 Netherlands · Artists22 decades
  2. 2Pierre CorneillePierre Corneille1606–1684 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers22 decades
  3. 3Philip IV of SpainPhilip IV of Spain1605–1665 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Historical Figures20 decades
  4. 4John MiltonJohn Milton1608–1674 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Writers22 decades
  5. 5Pierre de FermatPierre de Fermat1607–1665 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics8 decades
  6. 6François de La RochefoucauldFrançois de La Rochefoucauld1613–1680 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers18 decades
  7. 7Pope Innocent XIPope Innocent XI1611–1689 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Religious Figures22 decades
  8. 8Ferdinand III, Holy Roman EmperorFerdinand III, Holy Roman Emperor1608–1657 · 🇦🇹 Austria · Historical Figures22 decades
  9. 9Patriarch Nikon of MoscowPatriarch Nikon of Moscow1605–1681 · Religious Figures22 decades
  10. 10Murad IVMurad IV1612–1640 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writers4 decades
  11. 11Henrietta Maria of FranceHenrietta Maria of France1609–1669 · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians0 decades
  12. 12Ibrahim of the Ottoman EmpireIbrahim of the Ottoman Empire1615–1648 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  13. 13André Le NôtreAndré Le Nôtre1613–1700 · 🇫🇷 France · Architects10 decades
  14. 14Evangelista TorricelliEvangelista Torricelli1608–1647 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Scientists22 decades
  15. 15Charles de Batz de Castelmore d'ArtagnanCharles de Batz de Castelmore d'Artagnan1611–1673 · 🇫🇷 France · Writersnot measured—
  16. 16Madeleine de ScudéryMadeleine de Scudéry1607–1701 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers17 decades
  17. 17Gaston, Duke of OrléansGaston, Duke of Orléans1608–1660 · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures17 decades
  18. 18Michiel de RuyterMichiel de Ruyter1607–1676 · 🇳🇱 Netherlands · Writers0 decades
  19. 19Pope Alexander VIIIPope Alexander VIII1610–1691 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Religious Figures0 decades
  20. 20Paul GerhardtPaul Gerhardt1607–1676 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Academics20 decades
  21. 21Henri de La Tour d'Auvergne, Viscount of TurenneHenri de La Tour d'Auvergne, Viscount of Turenne1611–1675 · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  22. 22Paul ScarronPaul Scarron1610–1660 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers22 decades
  23. 23Maria Anna of SpainMaria Anna of Spain1606–1646 · 🇪🇸 Spainnot measured—
  24. 24Peter StuyvesantPeter Stuyvesant1612–1672 · 🇳🇱 Netherlands · Politicians22 decades
  25. 25Frederick III of DenmarkFrederick III of Denmark1609–1670 · Politicians0 decades
  26. 26John II Casimir VasaJohn II Casimir Vasa1609–1672 · Historical Figures0 decades
  27. 27Johannes HeveliusJohannes Hevelius1611–1687 · Scientists3 decades
  28. 28Balthasar CharlesBalthasar Charles1629–1646 · 🇪🇸 Spain8 decades
  29. 29Jean François Paul de GondiJean François Paul de Gondi1613–1679 · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figuresnot measured—
  30. 30Raimondo, Prince MontecuccoliRaimondo, Prince Montecuccoli1609–1680 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Politiciansnot measured—
  31. 31Louis Le VauLouis Le Vau1613–1670 · 🇫🇷 France · Architects11 decades
  32. 32Evliya ÇelebiEvliya Çelebi1611–1682 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writers2 decades
  33. 33Christine of FranceChristine of France1606–1663 · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians22 decades
  34. 34CEChongzhen Emperor1611–1644 · 🇨🇳 China · Historical Figures0 decades
  35. 35Ferdinando II de' Medici, Grand Duke of TuscanyFerdinando II de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany1610–1670 · Politicians19 decades
  36. 36Judith LeysterJudith Leyster1609–1660 · 🇳🇱 Netherlands · Artists0 decades
  37. 37Saskia van UylenburghSaskia van Uylenburgh1612–1642 · 🇳🇱 Netherlands0 decades
  38. 38Pierre Mignard IPierre Mignard I1612–1695 · 🇫🇷 France · Artists22 decades
  39. 39Claude PerraultClaude Perrault1613–1688 · 🇫🇷 France · Architects22 decades
  40. 40Anna Maria van SchurmanAnna Maria van Schurman1607–1678 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Artists0 decades
  41. 41Mattia PretiMattia Preti1613–1699 · Artists22 decades
  42. 42Antoine ArnauldAntoine Arnauld1612–1694 · Actors22 decades
  43. 43Gerrit DouGerrit Dou1613–1675 · Artists0 decades
  44. 44Giovanni Alfonso BorelliGiovanni Alfonso Borelli1608–1679 · Academics0 decades
  45. 45George Monck, 1st Duke of AlbemarleGeorge Monck, 1st Duke of Albemarle1608–1670 · Politiciansnot measured—
  46. 46Gu YanwuGu Yanwu1613–1682 · Writers8 decades
  47. 47David Teniers the YoungerDavid Teniers the Younger1610–1690 · Artists0 decades
  48. 48Jean-Baptiste TavernierJean-Baptiste Tavernier1605–1689 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers5 decades
  49. 49Thomas Fairfax, 3rd Lord Fairfax of CameronThomas Fairfax, 3rd Lord Fairfax of Cameron1612–1671 · Politiciansnot measured—
  50. 50Cardinal-Infante Ferdinand of AustriaCardinal-Infante Ferdinand of Austria1609–1641 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Politicians22 decades
  51. 51Juan Carreño de MirandaJuan Carreño de Miranda1614–1685 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Artists16 decades
  52. 52Thomas BrowneThomas Browne1605–1682 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Writers22 decades
  53. 53Semyon DezhnyovSemyon Dezhnyov1605–1673 · Historical Figures0 decades
  54. 54Li ZichengLi Zicheng1606–1645 · 🇨🇳 China · Politicians9 decades
  55. 55Marie Louise GonzagaMarie Louise Gonzaga1611–1667 · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians13 decades
  56. 56Mary DyerMary Dyer1611–166021 decades
  57. 57GCGiacomo Carissimi1605–1674 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musicians0 decades
  58. 58DorgonDorgon1612–1650 · Politicians4 decades
  59. 59Zhang XianzhongZhang Xianzhong1606–16476 decades
  60. 60Adriaen van OstadeAdriaen van Ostade1610–1685 · Artists1 decades
  61. 61John George II, Elector of SaxonyJohn George II, Elector of Saxony1613–168022 decades
  62. 62Wenceslaus HollarWenceslaus Hollar1607–1677 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Actors3 decades
  63. 63Maria Leopoldine of AustriaMaria Leopoldine of Austria1632–1649not measured—
  64. 64Archduke Leopold Wilhelm of AustriaArchduke Leopold Wilhelm of Austria1614–1662 · Politicians0 decades
  65. 65James HarringtonJames Harrington1611–1677 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Writers22 decades
  66. 66Carl Gustaf WrangelCarl Gustaf Wrangel1613–1676 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Politicians0 decades
  67. 67Odoardo FarneseOdoardo Farnese1612–1646 · Historical Figures0 decades
  68. 68TukaramTukaram1608–1650 · 🇮🇳 India · Writers15 decades
  69. 69Jahanara BegumJahanara Begum1614–1681 · 🇮🇳 India · Writers0 decades
  70. 70John WilkinsJohn Wilkins1614–1672 · Academics22 decades
  71. 71Anne BradstreetAnne Bradstreet1612–1672 · Writers17 decades
  72. 72Eberhard III, Duke of WürttembergEberhard III, Duke of Württemberg1614–1674 · 🇩🇪 Germany20 decades
  73. 73Luisa de GuzmánLuisa de Guzmán1613–1666 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Politiciansnot measured—
  74. 74Nicholas FrancisNicholas Francis1609–1670 · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures0 decades
  75. 75Jan Davidsz. de HeemJan Davidsz. de Heem1606–1684 · Artistsnot measured—
  76. 76Pierre-Paul RiquetPierre-Paul Riquet1609–1680 · 🇫🇷 France · Architects7 decades
  77. 77Safi of PersiaSafi of Persia1611–1642 · Historical Figures0 decades
  78. 78Jacob KettlerJacob Kettler1610–1682 · Historical Figures0 decades
  79. 79Jeremiah HorrocksJeremiah Horrocks1618–1641 · Scientists1 decades
  80. 80MasanielloMasaniello1620–1647 · Activists22 decades
  81. 81Kâtip ÇelebiKâtip Çelebi1609–1657 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Academics0 decades
  82. 82Jan LievensJan Lievens1607–1674 · Artists0 decades
  83. 83Henry IretonHenry Ireton1611–1651 · Politicians9 decades
  84. 84Hezârfen Ahmet ÇelebiHezârfen Ahmet Çelebi1609–1640 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Scientistsnot measured—
  85. 85Cecilia Renata of AustriaCecilia Renata of Austria1611–1644 · Historical Figures0 decades
  86. 86George II, Landgrave of Hesse-DarmstadtGeorge II, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt1605–1661 · 🇩🇪 Germany22 decades
  87. 87Thomas FullerThomas Fuller1608–1661 · Writers22 decades
  88. 88Margherita de' MediciMargherita de' Medici1612–1679 · Politicians19 decades
  89. 89Bartholomeus van der HelstBartholomeus van der Helst1613–1670 · Artists0 decades
  90. 90Martino MartiniMartino Martini1614–1661 · Scientists19 decades
  91. 91Henry MoreHenry More1614–1687 · Academics22 decades
  92. 92António VieiraAntónio Vieira1608–1697 · 🇵🇹 Portugal · Politicians0 decades
  93. 93Edward Hyde, 1st Earl of ClarendonEdward Hyde, 1st Earl of Clarendon1609–1674 · Writersnot measured—
  94. 94Wu SanguiWu Sangui1612–1678 · 🇨🇳 China · Historical Figures6 decades
  95. 95GTGiulia Tofanadied 1651 · Scientists0 decades
  96. 96Francesco I d'Este, Duke of ModenaFrancesco I d'Este, Duke of Modena1610–1658 · Historical Figures0 decades
  97. 97Henri Coiffier de Ruzé, Marquis of Cinq-MarsHenri Coiffier de Ruzé, Marquis of Cinq-Mars1620–1642 · 🇫🇷 Francenot measured—
  98. 98Nicole, Duchess of LorraineNicole, Duchess of Lorraine1608–1657 · 🇫🇷 France1 decades
  99. 99Ivan SirkoIvan Sirko1610–16800 decades
  100. 100Basil of OstrogBasil of Ostrog1610–1671 · 🇹🇷 Turkey0 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.