Claim profile
1740–1749

The 1740s

Whose working lives fell in the 1740s. 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 1740s, ranked where Wikipedia coverage and readership agree.

  1. 1Jean-Jacques RousseauJean-Jacques Rousseau1712–1778 · 🇨🇭 Switzerland · Academics22 decades
  2. 2Benjamin FranklinBenjamin Franklin1706–1790 · 🇺🇸 United States · Politicians22 decades
  3. 3Mikhail LomonosovMikhail Lomonosov1711–1765 · Scientists19 decades
  4. 4Louis XV of FranceLouis XV of France1710–1774 · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures22 decades
  5. 5Frederick the GreatFrederick the Great1712–1786 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures22 decades
  6. 6Carl LinnaeusCarl Linnaeus1707–1778 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Scientists7 decades
  7. 7Elizabeth of RussiaElizabeth of Russia1709–1761 · Historical Figures20 decades
  8. 8Leonhard EulerLeonhard Euler1707–1783 · 🇨🇭 Switzerland · Academics22 decades
  9. 9Denis DiderotDenis Diderot1713–1784 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics21 decades
  10. 10David HumeDavid Hume1711–1776 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Academics22 decades
  11. 11Qianlong EmperorQianlong Emperor1711–1799 · 🇨🇳 China · Historical Figures3 decades
  12. 12Carlo GoldoniCarlo Goldoni1707–1793 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers22 decades
  13. 13Francis I, Holy Roman EmperorFrancis I, Holy Roman Emperor1708–1765 · Historical Figures6 decades
  14. 14Ferdinand VI of SpainFerdinand VI of Spain1713–1759 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Models4 decades
  15. 15Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de BuffonGeorges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon1707–1788 · 🇫🇷 France · Writersnot measured—
  16. 16Christoph Willibald GluckChristoph Willibald Gluck1714–1787 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Musicians9 decades
  17. 17Pope Clement XIVPope Clement XIV1705–1774 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Religious Figures20 decades
  18. 18Carl Philipp Emanuel BachCarl Philipp Emanuel Bach1714–1788 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Musicians15 decades
  19. 19Samuel JohnsonSamuel Johnson1709–1784 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Writers22 decades
  20. 20Laura BassiLaura Bassi1711–1778 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Scientists22 decades
  21. 21FarinelliFarinelli1705–1782 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musicians22 decades
  22. 22Frederick, Prince of WalesFrederick, Prince of Wales1707–1751 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures0 decades
  23. 23Laurence SterneLaurence Sterne1713–1768 · Writers22 decades
  24. 24Adolf Frederick, King of SwedenAdolf Frederick, King of Sweden1710–1771 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Historical Figures22 decades
  25. 25Count of St. GermainCount of St. Germain1712–1784 · Musicians7 decades
  26. 26Julien Offray de La MettrieJulien Offray de La Mettrie1709–1751 · 🇫🇷 France · Doctors2 decades
  27. 27Wilhelm Friedemann BachWilhelm Friedemann Bach1710–1784 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Musicians13 decades
  28. 28Henry FieldingHenry Fielding1707–1754 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Writers22 decades
  29. 29Étienne Bonnot de CondillacÉtienne Bonnot de Condillac1714–1780 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics1 decades
  30. 30Joseph I of PortugalJoseph I of Portugal1714–1777 · 🇵🇹 Portugal0 decades
  31. 31Barbara of Portugal, Queen of SpainBarbara of Portugal, Queen of Spain1711–1758 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Musicians17 decades
  32. 32William Pitt, 1st Earl of ChathamWilliam Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham1708–1778 · Politiciansnot measured—
  33. 33Jeanne Marie Leprince de BeaumontJeanne Marie Leprince de Beaumont1711–1776 · 🇫🇷 France · Writersnot measured—
  34. 34Luc de Clapiers, marquis de VauvenarguesLuc de Clapiers, marquis de Vauvenargues1715–1747 · 🇫🇷 France · Writersnot measured—
  35. 35AGAlexander Gottlieb Baumgarten1714–1762 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Academics11 decades
  36. 36Louise Élisabeth d'OrléansLouise Élisabeth d'Orléans1709–1742 · 🇫🇷 France0 decades
  37. 37Albrecht von HallerAlbrecht von Haller1708–1777 · 🇨🇭 Switzerland · Writers22 decades
  38. 38Joseph VernetJoseph Vernet1714–1789 · Artists22 decades
  39. 39Roger Joseph BoscovichRoger Joseph Boscovich1711–1787 · Scientists7 decades
  40. 40Baldassare GaluppiBaldassare Galuppi1706–1785 · Musicians15 decades
  41. 41Wilhelmine of Prussia, Margravine of Brandenburg-BayreuthWilhelmine of Prussia, Margravine of Brandenburg-Bayreuth1709–1758 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writers0 decades
  42. 42Prince Charles Alexander of LorrainePrince Charles Alexander of Lorraine1712–1780 · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians0 decades
  43. 43Junípero SerraJunípero Serra1713–1784 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Religious Figures18 decades
  44. 44William IV, Prince of OrangeWilliam IV, Prince of Orange1711–1751 · 🇳🇱 Netherlands · Politicians22 decades
  45. 45Francesco GuardiFrancesco Guardi1712–1793 · Artists21 decades
  46. 46Anna LeopoldovnaAnna Leopoldovna1718–1746 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures0 decades
  47. 47Georg Wilhelm StellerGeorg Wilhelm Steller1709–1746 · Historical Figures3 decades
  48. 48Maria Teresa Rafaela of SpainMaria Teresa Rafaela of Spain1726–1746 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  49. 49Sayat-NovaSayat-Nova1712–1795 · Musicians0 decades
  50. 50Antiochus KantemirAntiochus Kantemir1708–1744 · Academics17 decades
  51. 51John Stuart, 3rd Earl of ButeJohn Stuart, 3rd Earl of Bute1713–1792 · Politiciansnot measured—
  52. 52Karim Khan zandKarim Khan zand1705–1779not measured—
  53. 53Charles-Michel de l'ÉpéeCharles-Michel de l'Épée1712–1789 · 🇫🇷 France · Educatorsnot measured—
  54. 54Alexis ClairautAlexis Clairaut1713–1765 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics0 decades
  55. 55Joanna Elisabeth of Holstein-GottorpJoanna Elisabeth of Holstein-Gottorp1712–1760 · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  56. 56Pompeo BatoniPompeo Batoni1708–1787 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists20 decades
  57. 57Thomas ReidThomas Reid1710–1796 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Academics22 decades
  58. 58Louis-Joseph de MontcalmLouis-Joseph de Montcalm1712–1759 · 🇫🇷 France0 decades
  59. 59Jacques de VaucansonJacques de Vaucanson1709–1782 · Scientists0 decades
  60. 60Francesco AlgarottiFrancesco Algarotti1712–1764 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Academics22 decades
  61. 61George WhitefieldGeorge Whitefield1714–1770 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Academics22 decades
  62. 62Anne, Princess Royal and Princess of OrangeAnne, Princess Royal and Princess of Orange1709–1759 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  63. 63George GrenvilleGeorge Grenville1712–1770 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Politicians22 decades
  64. 64Kelzang GyatsoKelzang Gyatso1708–1757 · 🇨🇳 China · Politicians0 decades
  65. 65Charles WesleyCharles Wesley1707–1788 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Writers22 decades
  66. 66Wenzel Anton, Prince of Kaunitz-RietbergWenzel Anton, Prince of Kaunitz-Rietberg1711–1794 · Politicians0 decades
  67. 67Thomas ArneThomas Arne1710–1778 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Musicians0 decades
  68. 68AlaungpayaAlaungpaya1714–1760 · Historical Figures6 decades
  69. 69John ClelandJohn Cleland1709–1789 · Writers15 decades
  70. 70Moshe Chaim LuzzattoMoshe Chaim Luzzatto1707–1746 · Academicsnot measured—
  71. 71MBMohammed ben Abdallah1710–1790 · Politicians0 decades
  72. 72Abbas IIIAbbas III1732–1740 · Politicians0 decades
  73. 73Princess Amelia of Great BritainPrincess Amelia of Great Britain1711–1786 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  74. 74Duke Anthony Ulrich of BrunswickDuke Anthony Ulrich of Brunswick1714–1774 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Politiciansnot measured—
  75. 75Princess Caroline of Great BritainPrincess Caroline of Great Britain1713–1757 · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  76. 76Adil ShahAdil Shah1719–1749 · Historical Figures22 decades
  77. 77Paolo RenierPaolo Renier1710–1789 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Politicians0 decades
  78. 78Giovanni Battista MartiniGiovanni Battista Martini1706–1784 · Musicians4 decades
  79. 79Charles I, Duke of Brunswick-WolfenbüttelCharles I, Duke of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel1713–1780 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures22 decades
  80. 80Toriyama SekienToriyama Sekien1712–1788 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Artists0 decades
  81. 81Leopold Joseph von DaunLeopold Joseph von Daun1705–17660 decades
  82. 82Tokugawa IeshigeTokugawa Ieshige1712–1761 · 🇯🇵 Japan0 decades
  83. 83Nicolas-Louis de LacailleNicolas-Louis de Lacaille1713–1762 · 🇫🇷 France · Scientists0 decades
  84. 84Louis-Michel van LooLouis-Michel van Loo1707–1771 · 🇫🇷 France · Artists0 decades
  85. 85Duke Charles Louis Frederick of MecklenburgDuke Charles Louis Frederick of Mecklenburg1708–1752 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures0 decades
  86. 86Guillaume Thomas François RaynalGuillaume Thomas François Raynal1713–1796 · 🇫🇷 France · Artists3 decades
  87. 87Georg Wilhelm RichmannGeorg Wilhelm Richmann1711–1753 · Scientists0 decades
  88. 88Alexey RazumovskyAlexey Razumovsky1709–1771 · Musicians0 decades
  89. 89Princess Elizabeth Albertine of Saxe-HildburghausenPrincess Elizabeth Albertine of Saxe-Hildburghausen1713–1761 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Politiciansnot measured—
  90. 90William CullenWilliam Cullen1710–1790 · Doctors22 decades
  91. 91Ablai KhanAblai Khan1711–1781 · Historical Figures0 decades
  92. 92William Murray, 1st Earl of MansfieldWilliam Murray, 1st Earl of Mansfield1705–1793 · Politiciansnot measured—
  93. 93Mary Ball WashingtonMary Ball Washington1708–1789 · 🇺🇸 United States1 decades
  94. 94Charles Spencer, 3rd Duke of MarlboroughCharles Spencer, 3rd Duke of Marlborough1706–1758 · Politiciansnot measured—
  95. 95Elisabeth Therese of LorraineElisabeth Therese of Lorraine1711–1741 · Historical Figures0 decades
  96. 96Jacques-Germain SoufflotJacques-Germain Soufflot1713–1780 · Architects1 decades
  97. 97Allan RamsayAllan Ramsay1713–1784 · Artists22 decades
  98. 98Charles André van LooCharles André van Loo1705–1765 · 🇫🇷 France · Artistsnot measured—
  99. 99Jean-Baptiste PigalleJean-Baptiste Pigalle1714–1785 · 🇫🇷 France · Artists3 decades
  100. 100William BoyceWilliam Boyce1711–1779 · Musicians15 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.