Claim profile
1650–1659

The 1650s

Whose working lives fell in the 1650s. 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 1650s, ranked where Wikipedia coverage and readership agree.

  1. 1MolièreMolière1622–1673 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers22 decades
  2. 2Blaise PascalBlaise Pascal1623–1662 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics22 decades
  3. 3Jean de La FontaineJean de La Fontaine1621–1695 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers22 decades
  4. 4Jean-Baptiste ColbertJean-Baptiste Colbert1619–1683 · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians22 decades
  5. 5Cyrano de BergeracCyrano de Bergerac1619–1655 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers0 decades
  6. 6Bartolomé Esteban MurilloBartolomé Esteban Murillo1617–1682 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Artists20 decades
  7. 7AurangzebAurangzeb1618–1707 · 🇮🇳 India · Historical Figures20 decades
  8. 8KoxingaKoxinga1624–1662 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politicians10 decades
  9. 9Frederick William, Elector of BrandenburgFrederick William, Elector of Brandenburg1620–1688 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures22 decades
  10. 10AvvakumAvvakum1620–1682 · Religious Figures5 decades
  11. 11Ninon de LenclosNinon de Lenclos1620–1705 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers22 decades
  12. 12Charles Le BrunCharles Le Brun1619–1690 · 🇫🇷 France · Artists22 decades
  13. 13Pope Innocent XIIPope Innocent XII1615–1700 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Religious Figures8 decades
  14. 14Hans Jakob Christoffel von GrimmelshausenHans Jakob Christoffel von Grimmelshausen1622–1676 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writers8 decades
  15. 15Louis, Grand CondéLouis, Grand Condé1621–1686 · 🇫🇷 France · Politiciansnot measured—
  16. 16Charles X Gustav of SwedenCharles X Gustav of Sweden1622–1660 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Historical Figures19 decades
  17. 17Angelus SilesiusAngelus Silesius1624–1677 · Writers20 decades
  18. 18Nicolas FouquetNicolas Fouquet1615–1680 · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians22 decades
  19. 19Andreas GryphiusAndreas Gryphius1616–1664 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writers22 decades
  20. 20Salvator RosaSalvator Rosa1615–1673 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists22 decades
  21. 21William II, Prince of OrangeWilliam II, Prince of Orange1626–1650 · 🇳🇱 Netherlands · Historical Figures22 decades
  22. 22Guarino GuariniGuarino Guarini1624–1683 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Architects22 decades
  23. 23Prince Rupert of the RhinePrince Rupert of the Rhine1619–1682 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientistsnot measured—
  24. 24Ferdinand IV, King of the RomansFerdinand IV, King of the Romans1633–1654 · Historical Figures21 decades
  25. 25John WallisJohn Wallis1616–1703 · Academics22 decades
  26. 26George FoxGeorge Fox1624–1691 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Academics22 decades
  27. 27Francesco MorosiniFrancesco Morosini1619–1694 · Politicians22 decades
  28. 28Wang FuzhiWang Fuzhi1619–1692 · 🇨🇳 China · Writers9 decades
  29. 29Charles I Louis, Elector PalatineCharles I Louis, Elector Palatine1617–1680 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Politicians0 decades
  30. 30Jan van RiebeeckJan van Riebeeck1619–1677 · 🇳🇱 Netherlands · Politicians7 decades
  31. 31Carel FabritiusCarel Fabritius1622–1654 · Artists0 decades
  32. 32Roger de Rabutin, Comte de BussyRoger de Rabutin, Comte de Bussy1618–1693 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers0 decades
  33. 33Philip William, Elector PalatinePhilip William, Elector Palatine1615–169022 decades
  34. 34Barbara StrozziBarbara Strozzi1619–1677 · Musicians5 decades
  35. 35Pierre PugetPierre Puget1620–1694 · 🇫🇷 France · Artists22 decades
  36. 36Margaret Cavendish, Duchess of Newcastle-upon-TyneMargaret Cavendish, Duchess of Newcastle-upon-Tyne1623–1673 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Writersnot measured—
  37. 375th Dalai Lama5th Dalai Lama1617–1682 · 🇨🇳 China · Politiciansnot measured—
  38. 38William PettyWilliam Petty1623–1687 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Academics22 decades
  39. 39Elisabeth of the PalatinateElisabeth of the Palatinate1618–1680 · Academics14 decades
  40. 40Edme MariotteEdme Mariotte1620–1684 · 🇫🇷 France · Scientists0 decades
  41. 41Guru Tegh BahadurGuru Tegh Bahadur1621–1675 · Writers6 decades
  42. 42Gerard ter BorchGerard ter Borch1617–1681 · Artists0 decades
  43. 43Paulus PotterPaulus Potter1625–1654 · Artists0 decades
  44. 44Elias AshmoleElias Ashmole1617–1692 · Politicians22 decades
  45. 45JJJohann Jakob Froberger1616–1667 · Musicians2 decades
  46. 46Ferdinand VerbiestFerdinand Verbiest1623–1688 · Religious Figures4 decades
  47. 47Empress MeishōEmpress Meishō1624–1696 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  48. 48Aelbert CuypAelbert Cuyp1620–1691 · Artists0 decades
  49. 49Vincenzo VivianiVincenzo Viviani1622–1703 · Academics22 decades
  50. 50Thomas WillisThomas Willis1621–1675 · Doctors22 decades
  51. 51Dara ShukohDara Shukoh1615–1659 · 🇮🇳 India · Writers4 decades
  52. 52Anne-Geneviève de BourbonAnne-Geneviève de Bourbon1619–1679 · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  53. 53Ferdinand BolFerdinand Bol1616–1680 · Artists2 decades
  54. 54Peter LelyPeter Lely1618–1680 · Artists22 decades
  55. 55Shi LangShi Lang1621–1696 · Politicians5 decades
  56. 56Madeleine BéjartMadeleine Béjart1618–1988 · 🇫🇷 France · Actors20 decades
  57. 57John EvelynJohn Evelyn1620–1706 · Writers22 decades
  58. 58François BernierFrançois Bernier1620–1688 · Academics19 decades
  59. 59Thomas SydenhamThomas Sydenham1624–1689 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Doctors20 decades
  60. 60Andrew MarvellAndrew Marvell1621–1678 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Writers22 decades
  61. 61Louis de Buade de FrontenacLouis de Buade de Frontenac1622–1698 · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians0 decades
  62. 62Nikola VII ZrinskiNikola VII Zrinski1620–1664 · Writersnot measured—
  63. 63George William of Brunswick-Lüneburg-CelleGeorge William of Brunswick-Lüneburg-Celle1624–1705 · 🇩🇪 Germany22 decades
  64. 64Juan de Valdés LealJuan de Valdés Leal1622–1690 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Artists16 decades
  65. 65Go-KōmyōGo-Kōmyō1633–1654 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Modelsnot measured—
  66. 66Algernon SidneyAlgernon Sidney1623–1683 · Politicians22 decades
  67. 67Hishikawa MoronobuHishikawa Moronobu1618–1694 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Artists0 decades
  68. 68Govert FlinckGovert Flinck1615–1660 · Artists0 decades
  69. 69Carlo DolciCarlo Dolci1616–1686 · Artists13 decades
  70. 70Hyojong of JoseonHyojong of Joseon1619–1659 · 🇰🇷 South Koreanot measured—
  71. 71Leonora Christina UlfeldtLeonora Christina Ulfeldt1621–1698not measured—
  72. 72Richard BaxterRichard Baxter1615–1691 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Writers22 decades
  73. 73Maria MiloslavskayaMaria Miloslavskaya1624–1669 · Politicians0 decades
  74. 74Anthony Ashley Cooper, 1st Earl of ShaftesburyAnthony Ashley Cooper, 1st Earl of Shaftesbury1621–1683 · Politiciansnot measured—
  75. 75George II RákócziGeorge II Rákóczi1621–1660 · Models0 decades
  76. 76IKIsmihan Kaya Sultan1633–1659 · 🇹🇷 Turkeynot measured—
  77. 77JGJohn Graunt1620–167411 decades
  78. 78François de Vendôme, Duc de BeaufortFrançois de Vendôme, Duc de Beaufort1616–1669 · 🇫🇷 France18 decades
  79. 79Frederick Schomberg, 1st Duke of SchombergFrederick Schomberg, 1st Duke of Schomberg1615–1690 · 🇩🇪 Germany0 decades
  80. 80Vittoria della RovereVittoria della Rovere1622–1694 · Politicians0 decades
  81. 81Lucy WalterLucy Walter1630–1658 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom1 decades
  82. 82John OwenJohn Owen1616–1683 · Actors22 decades
  83. 83Anna Catherine Constance VasaAnna Catherine Constance Vasa1619–1651 · Politiciansnot measured—
  84. 84Princess Elizabeth of EnglandPrincess Elizabeth of England1635–16500 decades
  85. 85Magnus Gabriel De la GardieMagnus Gabriel De la Gardie1622–1686 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Politicians0 decades
  86. 86ZYZhu Youlang, Prince of Gui1623–1662 · 🇨🇳 China · Politicians0 decades
  87. 87Nicholas CulpeperNicholas Culpeper1616–1654 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Doctors3 decades
  88. 88DBDilras Banu1622–1657 · Historical Figures0 decades
  89. 89Roshanara BegumRoshanara Begum1617–1671 · Writers0 decades
  90. 90HVHenry Vaughan1621–1695 · Writers22 decades
  91. 91Jan Andrzej MorsztynJan Andrzej Morsztyn1621–1693 · Writers0 decades
  92. 92Francesco Maria GrimaldiFrancesco Maria Grimaldi1618–1663 · Scientists0 decades
  93. 93Jean PicardJean Picard1620–1682 · 🇫🇷 France · Scientists22 decades
  94. 94François de La ChaiseFrançois de La Chaise1624–1709 · 🇫🇷 France · Educatorsnot measured—
  95. 95Yun HyuYun Hyu1617–1680 · Politicians0 decades
  96. 96Thomas BartholinThomas Bartholin1616–1680 · Academics2 decades
  97. 97Marguerite BourgeoysMarguerite Bourgeoys1620–170012 decades
  98. 98Shah ShujaShah Shuja1616–166118 decades
  99. 99François de LavalFrançois de Laval1623–1708 · Religious Figures21 decades
  100. 100Ivan BohunIvan Bohun1618–16640 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.