Claim profile
1720–1729

The 1720s

Whose working lives fell in the 1720s. 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 1720s, ranked where Wikipedia coverage and readership agree.

  1. 1Johann Sebastian BachJohann Sebastian Bach1685–1750 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Musicians22 decades
  2. 2VoltaireVoltaire1694–1778 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers22 decades
  3. 3George Frideric HandelGeorge Frideric Handel1685–1759 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Musicians21 decades
  4. 4MontesquieuMontesquieu1689–1755 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics22 decades
  5. 5Anna of RussiaAnna of Russia1693–1740 · Politicians21 decades
  6. 6Charles VI, Holy Roman EmperorCharles VI, Holy Roman Emperor1685–1740 · 🇦🇹 Austria · Historical Figures22 decades
  7. 7Louis I of SpainLouis I of Spain1707–1724 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Politicians4 decades
  8. 8Pope Clement XIIIPope Clement XIII1693–1769 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Religious Figures21 decades
  9. 9Frederick William I of PrussiaFrederick William I of Prussia1688–1740 · Historical Figures22 decades
  10. 10Pierre de MarivauxPierre de Marivaux1688–1763 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers22 decades
  11. 11Daniel Gabriel FahrenheitDaniel Gabriel Fahrenheit1686–1736 · Scientists1 decades
  12. 12Domenico ScarlattiDomenico Scarlatti1685–1757 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musicians17 decades
  13. 13Emanuel SwedenborgEmanuel Swedenborg1688–1772 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Scientists0 decades
  14. 14George BerkeleyGeorge Berkeley1685–1753 · Academics8 decades
  15. 15Nader ShahNader Shah1688–1747 · Historical Figures4 decades
  16. 16Alexander PopeAlexander Pope1688–1744 · Writers22 decades
  17. 17Elisabeth FarneseElisabeth Farnese1692–1766 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Historical Figures22 decades
  18. 18James Francis Edward Stuart, Prince of WalesJames Francis Edward Stuart, Prince of Wales1688–1766 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdomnot measured—
  19. 19Vasily TatishchevVasily Tatishchev1686–1750 · Historical Figures16 decades
  20. 20Giuseppe TartiniGiuseppe Tartini1692–1770 · Musicians22 decades
  21. 21François QuesnayFrançois Quesnay1694–1774 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics14 decades
  22. 22Johann Balthasar NeumannJohann Balthasar Neumann1687–1753 · Scientists13 decades
  23. 23John HarrisonJohn Harrison1693–1776 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Scientists22 decades
  24. 24Grand Duchess Anna Petrovna of RussiaGrand Duchess Anna Petrovna of Russia1708–1728 · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  25. 25Elisabeth Christine of Brunswick-WolfenbüttelElisabeth Christine of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel1691–1750 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Politiciansnot measured—
  26. 26Sophia Dorothea of HanoverSophia Dorothea of Hanover1687–1757 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures0 decades
  27. 27Hans EgedeHans Egede1686–1758 · 🇳🇴 Norway · Scientists17 decades
  28. 28Ulrika Eleonora, Queen of SwedenUlrika Eleonora, Queen of Sweden1688–1741 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Artists0 decades
  29. 29Mary Wortley MontaguMary Wortley Montagu1689–1762 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Historical Figures22 decades
  30. 30Samuel RichardsonSamuel Richardson1689–1761 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Writers22 decades
  31. 31Giovanni Paolo PaniniGiovanni Paolo Panini1691–1765 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists7 decades
  32. 32John V of PortugalJohn V of Portugal1689–1750 · 🇵🇹 Portugal · Historical Figures0 decades
  33. 33Brook TaylorBrook Taylor1685–1731 · Academics9 decades
  34. 34Christian GoldbachChristian Goldbach1690–1764 · Academics0 decades
  35. 35Nicola PorporaNicola Porpora1686–1768 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musicians12 decades
  36. 36Leonardo VinciLeonardo Vinci1690–1730 · Musicians21 decades
  37. 37John GayJohn Gay1685–1732 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Writers22 decades
  38. 38Benedetto MarcelloBenedetto Marcello1686–1739 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musicians22 decades
  39. 39Jean-Marc NattierJean-Marc Nattier1685–1766 · 🇫🇷 France · Artists2 decades
  40. 40Louis Henri, Duke of BourbonLouis Henri, Duke of Bourbon1692–1740 · 🇫🇷 France · Politiciansnot measured—
  41. 41Francis HutchesonFrancis Hutcheson1694–1746 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Academics17 decades
  42. 42Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of ChesterfieldPhilip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield1694–1773 · Politiciansnot measured—
  43. 43Thomas Pelham-Holles, 1st Duke of Newcastle-upon-TyneThomas Pelham-Holles, 1st Duke of Newcastle-upon-Tyne1693–1768 · Politiciansnot measured—
  44. 44Ernst Johann von BironErnst Johann von Biron1690–1772 · Politicians1 decades
  45. 45Yeongjo of JoseonYeongjo of Joseon1694–1776 · 🇰🇷 South Korea · Scientistsnot measured—
  46. 46GCGiuseppe Castiglione1688–1766 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists17 decades
  47. 47Henry PelhamHenry Pelham1694–1754 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Politicians22 decades
  48. 48Hakuin EkakuHakuin Ekaku1685–1769 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Academicsnot measured—
  49. 49Christian August, Prince of Anhalt-ZerbstChristian August, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst1690–1747 · Politicians22 decades
  50. 50Gabrielle-Suzanne de VilleneuveGabrielle-Suzanne de Villeneuve1685–1755 · 🇫🇷 France · Writersnot measured—
  51. 51Edward LowEdward Low1690–1724 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom1 decades
  52. 52Jacques I, Prince of MonacoJacques I, Prince of Monaco1689–1751 · Historical Figures0 decades
  53. 53Princess Catherine Ivanovna of RussiaPrincess Catherine Ivanovna of Russia1691–1733 · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  54. 54GOGyeongjong of Joseon1688–1724 · 🇰🇷 South Koreanot measured—
  55. 55Edward EnglandEdward England1686–17200 decades
  56. 56Mahmud HotakiMahmud Hotaki1697–1725 · Politicians0 decades
  57. 57Augustine WashingtonAugustine Washington1694–174321 decades
  58. 58Francesco GeminianiFrancesco Geminiani1687–1762 · Musicians0 decades
  59. 59James BradleyJames Bradley1693–1762 · Scientists22 decades
  60. 60Alexey Bestuzhev-RyuminAlexey Bestuzhev-Ryumin1693–1768 · Politiciansnot measured—
  61. 61Paul of the CrossPaul of the Cross1694–177520 decades
  62. 62Louis VIII, Landgrave of Hesse-DarmstadtLouis VIII, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt1691–1768 · 🇩🇪 Germany22 decades
  63. 63Marie Louise of Hesse-KasselMarie Louise of Hesse-Kassel1688–1765 · Politiciansnot measured—
  64. 64Jai Singh IIJai Singh II1688–17430 decades
  65. 65Mir JafarMir Jafar1691–1765 · Politicians14 decades
  66. 66Bartolomeu de GusmãoBartolomeu de Gusmão1685–1724 · 🇵🇹 Portugal · Scientists0 decades
  67. 67Johann Maria FarinaJohann Maria Farina1685–1766 · Scientists0 decades
  68. 68Blas de LezoBlas de Lezo1689–1741 · 🇪🇸 Spain22 decades
  69. 69Philip MillerPhilip Miller1691–1771 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Scientists22 decades
  70. 70Andrey OstermanAndrey Osterman1686–1747 · Politicians1 decades
  71. 71Abul Khair KhanAbul Khair Khan1693–1748 · Models0 decades
  72. 72SenesinoSenesino1686–1758 · Musicians21 decades
  73. 73Sylvius Leopold WeissSylvius Leopold Weiss1687–1750 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Musicians0 decades
  74. 74Louise Élisabeth de BourbonLouise Élisabeth de Bourbon1693–1775 · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  75. 75Peter TordenskjoldPeter Tordenskjold1690–17200 decades
  76. 76Patrona HalilPatrona Halil1690–1730 · 🇹🇷 Turkey0 decades
  77. 77Theodore of CorsicaTheodore of Corsica1694–1756 · Writers2 decades
  78. 78Joseph ButlerJoseph Butler1692–1752 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Academics22 decades
  79. 79Dolly PentreathDolly Pentreath1692–17774 decades
  80. 80Daher el-OmarDaher el-Omar1689–17750 decades
  81. 81Hermann Samuel ReimarusHermann Samuel Reimarus1694–1768 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Academics20 decades
  82. 82Adrienne LecouvreurAdrienne Lecouvreur1692–1730 · Actors21 decades
  83. 83Abdallah of MoroccoAbdallah of Morocco1694–1757 · Politicians0 decades
  84. 84Antonio CorradiniAntonio Corradini1688–1752 · Artists0 decades
  85. 85Jean-Baptiste OudryJean-Baptiste Oudry1686–1755 · 🇫🇷 France · Artists6 decades
  86. 86JHJohan Helmich Roman1694–1758 · Musicians0 decades
  87. 87Pieter van MusschenbroekPieter van Musschenbroek1692–1761 · Scientists0 decades
  88. 88Jack SheppardJack Sheppard1702–172420 decades
  89. 89DZDomenico Zipoli1688–1726 · Musicians7 decades
  90. 90Zheng XieZheng Xie1693–1766 · Artistsnot measured—
  91. 91William StukeleyWilliam Stukeley1687–1765 · Academics9 decades
  92. 92Johann Friedrich FaschJohann Friedrich Fasch1688–1758 · Musicians4 decades
  93. 93Joseph Bodin de BoismortierJoseph Bodin de Boismortier1689–1755 · 🇫🇷 France · Musicians0 decades
  94. 94Louis-Claude DaquinLouis-Claude Daquin1694–1772 · 🇫🇷 France · Musicians0 decades
  95. 95Archduchess Maria Magdalena of AustriaArchduchess Maria Magdalena of Austria1689–1743 · Historical Figures0 decades
  96. 96Louis Armand II, Prince of ContiLouis Armand II, Prince of Conti1695–1727 · 🇫🇷 Francenot measured—
  97. 97John Carteret, 2nd Earl GranvilleJohn Carteret, 2nd Earl Granville1690–1763 · Writersnot measured—
  98. 98Grand Duchess Natalya Alexeyevna of RussiaGrand Duchess Natalya Alexeyevna of Russia1714–172817 decades
  99. 99Francesco Maria VeraciniFrancesco Maria Veracini1690–1768 · Musicians6 decades
  100. 100Richard Boyle, 3rd Earl of BurlingtonRichard Boyle, 3rd Earl of Burlington1694–1753 · Architectsnot measured—

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.