Claim profile
1500–1599

The 16th century

Whose working lives fell in the 16th century. 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 16th century, ranked where Wikipedia coverage and readership agree.

CountryAll🇪🇸 Spain🇫🇷 France🇯🇵 Japan🇩🇪 Germany🇮🇹 Italy🇹🇷 Turkey🇬🇧 United Kingdom🇸🇪 Sweden🇨🇭 Switzerland🇮🇳 India
FieldAllHistorical FiguresWritersPoliticiansArtistsAcademicsReligious FiguresMusiciansScientistsModelsActors
  1. 1Galileo GalileiGalileo Galilei1564–1642 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Scientists22 decades
  2. 2Tycho BraheTycho Brahe1546–1601 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Scientists22 decades
  3. 3Philip MelanchthonPhilip Melanchthon1497–1560 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientists22 decades
  4. 4Martin WaldseemüllerMartin Waldseemüller1470–1520 · Scientists10 decades
  5. 5Piri ReisPiri Reis1470–1554 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Scientists4 decades
  6. 6Johann Georg FaustJohann Georg Faust1480–1540 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientists0 decades
  7. 7Abraham OrteliusAbraham Ortelius1527–1598 · Scientists4 decades
  8. 8Christopher ClaviusChristopher Clavius1538–1612 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientists1 decades
  9. 9Ulisse AldrovandiUlisse Aldrovandi1522–1605 · Scientists1 decades
  10. 10Carolus ClusiusCarolus Clusius1526–1609 · 🇫🇷 France · Scientists0 decades
  11. 11Peter HenleinPeter Henlein1485–1510 · Scientists13 decades
  12. 12Thomas HarriotThomas Harriot1560–1621 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Scientists7 decades
  13. 13Bernard PalissyBernard Palissy1510–1589 · 🇫🇷 France · Scientists22 decades
  14. 14SanctoriusSanctorius1561–1636 · Scientists17 decades
  15. 15Sophia BraheSophia Brahe1559–1643 · Scientists0 decades
  16. 16Jodocus Hondius IJodocus Hondius I1563–1612 · Scientistsnot measured—
  17. 17Petrus PlanciusPetrus Plancius1552–1622 · Scientists0 decades
  18. 18Li ShizhenLi Shizhen1517–1593 · Scientists7 decades
  19. 19William IV, Landgrave of Hesse-KasselWilliam IV, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel1532–1592 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientists22 decades
  20. 20Pietro Andrea MattioliPietro Andrea Mattioli1501–1578 · Scientists21 decades
  21. 21Gaspard BauhinGaspard Bauhin1560–1624 · 🇨🇭 Switzerland · Scientists21 decades
  22. 22Estêvão GomesEstêvão Gomes1484–1538 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Scientists17 decades
  23. 23Garcia de OrtaGarcia de Orta1499–1568 · Scientists2 decades
  24. 24Thomas DiggesThomas Digges1546–1595 · Scientists14 decades
  25. 25André ThévetAndré Thévet1516–1592 · 🇫🇷 France · Scientists0 decades
  26. 26Hieronymus BockHieronymus Bock1498–1554 · Scientists18 decades
  27. 27Henry Percy, 9th Earl of NorthumberlandHenry Percy, 9th Earl of Northumberland1564–1632 · Scientistsnot measured—
  28. 28John GerardJohn Gerard1545–1612 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Scientists22 decades
  29. 29OPOttaviano Petrucci1466–1539 · Scientists14 decades
  30. 30Paul LutherPaul Luther1533–1593 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientists2 decades
  31. 31Rembert DodoensRembert Dodoens1517–1585 · Scientists0 decades
  32. 32Michael MaestlinMichael Maestlin1550–1631 · Scientists0 decades
  33. 33Conrad HaasConrad Haas1509–1576 · Scientists0 decades
  34. 34Jean FernelJean Fernel1506–1558 · 🇫🇷 France · Scientists0 decades
  35. 35Alonso Álvarez de PinedaAlonso Álvarez de Pineda1494–1520 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Scientists0 decades
  36. 36Johannes SchönerJohannes Schöner1477–1547 · Scientists9 decades
  37. 37Otto BrunfelsOtto Brunfels1488–1534 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientists22 decades
  38. 38Ignazio DantiIgnazio Danti1536–1586 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Scientists21 decades
  39. 39David FabriciusDavid Fabricius1564–1617 · Scientists14 decades
  40. 40Matthias de l'ObelMatthias de l'Obel1538–1616 · 🇫🇷 France · Scientists0 decades
  41. 41Guillaume RondeletGuillaume Rondelet1507–1566 · 🇫🇷 France · Scientists18 decades
  42. 42João de CastroJoão de Castro1500–1548 · Scientists0 decades
  43. 43Jerónimo de Ayanz y BeaumontJerónimo de Ayanz y Beaumont1553–1613 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Scientists0 decades
  44. 44Diego de OrdazDiego de Ordaz1480–1532 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Scientists22 decades
  45. 45Valerius CordusValerius Cordus1515–1544 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientists3 decades
  46. 46ZZZhu Zaiyu, Prince of Zheng1536–1611 · Scientistsnot measured—
  47. 47Johannes HonterJohannes Honter1498–1549 · Scientists7 decades
  48. 48Giovanni Antonio MaginiGiovanni Antonio Magini1555–1617 · Scientists13 decades
  49. 49Matthias RingmannMatthias Ringmann1482–1511 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientists0 decades
  50. 50Nicolás MonardesNicolás Monardes1508–1588 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Scientists19 decades
  51. 51Prospero AlpiniProspero Alpini1553–1616 · Scientists5 decades
  52. 52Guidobaldo del MonteGuidobaldo del Monte1545–1607 · Scientists4 decades
  53. 53Heinrich BüntingHeinrich Bünting1545–1606 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientists0 decades
  54. 54Luca GhiniLuca Ghini1490–1556 · Scientists21 decades
  55. 55Urbano MontiUrbano Monti1544–1613 · Scientists1 decades
  56. 56Johann BauhinJohann Bauhin1541–1612 · 🇨🇭 Switzerland · Scientists0 decades
  57. 57Pedro ReinelPedro Reinel1500–1542 · Scientists0 decades
  58. 58Alessandro PiccolominiAlessandro Piccolomini1508–1579 · Scientists22 decades
  59. 59Basilius BeslerBasilius Besler1561–1629 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientists0 decades
  60. 60Giacomo GastaldiGiacomo Gastaldi1500–1566 · Scientists12 decades
  61. 61Edward WrightEdward Wright1561–1615 · Scientists22 decades
  62. 62Leonhard RauwolfLeonhard Rauwolf1535–1596 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientists0 decades
  63. 63MNMelpathur Narayana Bhattathiri1560–1648 · Scientists0 decades
  64. 64Blasco de GarayBlasco de Garay1500–1552 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Scientists21 decades
  65. 65PDPieter Dirkszoon Keyser1540–1596 · 🇳🇱 Netherlands · Scientists0 decades
  66. 66Agostino RamelliAgostino Ramelli1531–1600 · Scientists0 decades
  67. 67Hadrianus JuniusHadrianus Junius1511–1575 · Scientists0 decades
  68. 68Christen Sørensen LongomontanusChristen Sørensen Longomontanus1562–1647 · Scientistsnot measured—
  69. 69MFMartín Fernández de Enciso1469–1533 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Scientists14 decades
  70. 70Tadeáš HájekTadeáš Hájek1525–1600 · Scientists0 decades
  71. 71JBJean Beguin1550–1620 · 🇫🇷 France · Scientists0 decades
  72. 72Francesco BarozziFrancesco Barozzi1537–1604 · Scientists0 decades
  73. 73RFRuy Faleiro1500–1556 · Scientists0 decades
  74. 74Oswald CrollOswald Croll1563–1609 · Scientists0 decades
  75. 75Jean RobinJean Robin1550–1629 · 🇫🇷 France · Scientists22 decades
  76. 76Jacques le MoyneJacques le Moyne1533–1588 · 🇫🇷 France · Scientists2 decades
  77. 77Andrea BiancoAndrea Bianco1500–1500 · Scientists21 decades
  78. 78Jacques DaléchampsJacques Daléchamps1513–1588 · 🇫🇷 France · Scientists0 decades
  79. 79LJLucas Janszoon Waghenaer1534–1606 · Scientists0 decades
  80. 80Diogo RibeiroDiogo Ribeiro1500–1533 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Scientists19 decades
  81. 81Philippe van LansbergePhilippe van Lansberge1561–1632 · 🇳🇱 Netherlands · Scientistsnot measured—
  82. 82Lopo HomemLopo Homem1497–1572 · Scientists0 decades
  83. 83Battista AgneseBattista Agnese1500–1564 · Scientists14 decades
  84. 84Nicolaus ReimersNicolaus Reimers1551–1600 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientists0 decades
  85. 85Bartolomeu VelhoBartolomeu Velho1501–1568 · Scientists0 decades
  86. 86Cristóvão da CostaCristóvão da Costa1515–1594 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Scientists14 decades
  87. 87Adam de CraponneAdam de Craponne1526–1576 · 🇫🇷 France · Scientists0 decades
  88. 88Pedro de MedinaPedro de Medina1493–1567 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Scientists22 decades
  89. 89Jakob ChristmannJakob Christmann1554–1613 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientists0 decades
  90. 90Fernão Vaz DouradoFernão Vaz Dourado1520–1580 · Scientists0 decades
  91. 91Nicholas KratzerNicholas Kratzer1487–1550 · Scientists0 decades
  92. 92Gian Vincenzo PinelliGian Vincenzo Pinelli1535–1601 · Scientists18 decades
  93. 93GSGabriel Soares de Souza1540–1592 · Scientists0 decades
  94. 94ECEuricius Cordus1486–1535 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientists21 decades
  95. 95Albert PighiusAlbert Pighius1490–1542 · Scientists0 decades
  96. 96Rumold MercatorRumold Mercator1545–1599 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientists0 decades
  97. 97Gerard de JodeGerard de Jode1509–1591 · 🇳🇱 Netherlands · Scientists0 decades
  98. 98Celio CalcagniniCelio Calcagnini1479–1541 · Scientists22 decades
  99. 99Cornelius GemmaCornelius Gemma1535–1578 · Scientists2 decades
  100. 100Alonzo de Santa CruzAlonzo de Santa Cruz1505–1567 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Scientists21 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.