Claim profile
1750–1759

The 1750s

Whose working lives fell in the 1750s. 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 1750s, ranked where Wikipedia coverage and readership agree.

  1. 1Immanuel KantImmanuel Kant1724–1804 · Academics22 decades
  2. 2Maria TheresaMaria Theresa1717–1780 · 🇦🇹 Austria · Historical Figures22 decades
  3. 3Adam SmithAdam Smith1723–1790 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Academics22 decades
  4. 4Charles III of SpainCharles III of Spain1716–1788 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Models21 decades
  5. 5Madame de PompadourMadame de Pompadour1721–1764 · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians22 decades
  6. 6Pope Pius VIPope Pius VI1717–1799 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Religious Figures22 decades
  7. 7Jean le Rond d'AlembertJean le Rond d'Alembert1717–1783 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics7 decades
  8. 8Baron MunchausenBaron Munchausen1720–1797 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writers0 decades
  9. 9Leopold MozartLeopold Mozart1719–1787 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Musicians20 decades
  10. 10Cao XueqinCao Xueqin1724–1760 · 🇨🇳 China · Writers10 decades
  11. 11Johann Joachim WinckelmannJohann Joachim Winckelmann1717–1768 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writers17 decades
  12. 12Hryhorii SkovorodaHryhorii Skovoroda1722–1794 · Academics12 decades
  13. 13Charles Edward StuartCharles Edward Stuart1720–1788 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Politicians22 decades
  14. 14Friedrich Gottlieb KlopstockFriedrich Gottlieb Klopstock1724–1803 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writers20 decades
  15. 15Maria Amalia of SaxonyMaria Amalia of Saxony1724–1760 · 🇪🇸 Spain20 decades
  16. 16Giovanni Battista PiranesiGiovanni Battista Piranesi1720–1778 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists9 decades
  17. 17Frederick V of DenmarkFrederick V of Denmark1723–1766 · Historical Figures0 decades
  18. 18Samuel AdamsSamuel Adams1722–1803 · 🇺🇸 United States · Politicians22 decades
  19. 19Claude Adrien HelvétiusClaude Adrien Helvétius1715–1771 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics0 decades
  20. 20Maria Gaetana AgnesiMaria Gaetana Agnesi1718–1799 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Academics22 decades
  21. 21Charles Theodore, Elector of BavariaCharles Theodore, Elector of Bavaria1724–179918 decades
  22. 22Gaon of VilniusGaon of Vilnius1720–179713 decades
  23. 23Joshua ReynoldsJoshua Reynolds1723–1792 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Artists22 decades
  24. 24Bernardo BellottoBernardo Bellotto1722–1780 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists13 decades
  25. 25Horace WalpoleHorace Walpole1717–1797 · Writers22 decades
  26. 26Mariana Victoria of SpainMariana Victoria of Spain1718–1781 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  27. 27Ahmad Shah DurraniAhmad Shah Durrani1722–1772 · Historical Figures4 decades
  28. 28Christian Fürchtegott GellertChristian Fürchtegott Gellert1715–1769 · Writers22 decades
  29. 29Filippo I, Duke of ParmaFilippo I, Duke of Parma1720–1765 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  30. 30Mustafa IIIMustafa III1717–1774 · 🇹🇷 Turkey0 decades
  31. 31Robert-François DamiensRobert-François Damiens1715–1757 · 🇫🇷 France7 decades
  32. 32Louise Élisabeth of FranceLouise Élisabeth of France1727–1759 · 🇫🇷 France0 decades
  33. 33Dorothea Christiane ErxlebenDorothea Christiane Erxleben1715–1762 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Doctors1 decades
  34. 34Carlo GozziCarlo Gozzi1720–1806 · Writers22 decades
  35. 35Princess Augusta of Saxe-GothaPrincess Augusta of Saxe-Gotha1719–1772 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  36. 36James WolfeJames Wolfe1727–1759 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom22 decades
  37. 37Peter III of PortugalPeter III of Portugal1717–1786 · 🇵🇹 Portugal · Historical Figures0 decades
  38. 38Alexander SumarokovAlexander Sumarokov1717–1777 · Writers19 decades
  39. 39Anna Maria MozartAnna Maria Mozart1720–17780 decades
  40. 40Friedrich Christian I, Elector of SaxonyFriedrich Christian I, Elector of Saxony1722–1763 · Politicians22 decades
  41. 41David GarrickDavid Garrick1717–1779 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Actors22 decades
  42. 42Étienne François, duc de ChoiseulÉtienne François, duc de Choiseul1719–1785 · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians0 decades
  43. 43Prince William, Duke of CumberlandPrince William, Duke of Cumberland1721–1765 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom0 decades
  44. 44Adam FergusonAdam Ferguson1723–1816 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Academics22 decades
  45. 45Tobias SmollettTobias Smollett1721–1771 · Writers22 decades
  46. 46John Montagu, 4th Earl of SandwichJohn Montagu, 4th Earl of Sandwich1718–1792 · Politiciansnot measured—
  47. 47Elisabeth Christine of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel-BevernElisabeth Christine of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel-Bevern1715–1797 · 🇩🇪 Germanynot measured—
  48. 48Friedrich Wilhelm von SeydlitzFriedrich Wilhelm von Seydlitz1721–17730 decades
  49. 49PontiacPontiac1720–1769 · 🇨🇦 Canada · Politicians17 decades
  50. 50Thomas ChippendaleThomas Chippendale1718–1779 · Architects11 decades
  51. 51Louisa Ulrika of PrussiaLouisa Ulrika of Prussia1720–1782 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Historical Figures0 decades
  52. 52SakuramachiSakuramachi1720–1750 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  53. 53Johann StamitzJohann Stamitz1717–1757 · Musicians11 decades
  54. 54Maria Antonia Walpurgis of BavariaMaria Antonia Walpurgis of Bavaria1724–1780 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Musicians0 decades
  55. 55Prince Augustus William of PrussiaPrince Augustus William of Prussia1722–1758 · 🇩🇪 Germany8 decades
  56. 56William BlackstoneWilliam Blackstone1723–1780 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Politicians22 decades
  57. 57Louise of Great BritainLouise of Great Britain1724–1751 · Historical Figures0 decades
  58. 58Yosa BusonYosa Buson1716–1784 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Writers0 decades
  59. 59Ernst Gideon von LaudonErnst Gideon von Laudon1717–17900 decades
  60. 60Nikita PaninNikita Panin1718–1783 · Politicians19 decades
  61. 61Guillaume-Chrétien de Lamoignon de MalesherbesGuillaume-Chrétien de Lamoignon de Malesherbes1721–1794 · 🇫🇷 France · Scientistsnot measured—
  62. 62Henriette of FranceHenriette of France1727–1752 · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures22 decades
  63. 63Lancelot BrownLancelot Brown1716–1783 · Architects2 decades
  64. 64Étienne Maurice FalconetÉtienne Maurice Falconet1716–1791 · 🇫🇷 France · Artists0 decades
  65. 65George StubbsGeorge Stubbs1724–1806 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Artists13 decades
  66. 66Alexander RoslinAlexander Roslin1718–1793 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Artists0 decades
  67. 67Prithvi Narayan ShahPrithvi Narayan Shah1723–1775 · Historical Figures4 decades
  68. 68Louis IX, Landgrave of Hesse-DarmstadtLouis IX, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt1719–1790 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures22 decades
  69. 69John BurgoyneJohn Burgoyne1722–1792 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Writers22 decades
  70. 70William Cavendish, 4th Duke of DevonshireWilliam Cavendish, 4th Duke of Devonshire1720–1764 · Politiciansnot measured—
  71. 71Jeffery Amherst, 1st Baron AmherstJeffery Amherst, 1st Baron Amherst1717–1797 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdomnot measured—
  72. 72James LindJames Lind1716–1794 · Doctors9 decades
  73. 73Louise Henriette de BourbonLouise Henriette de Bourbon1726–1759 · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures0 decades
  74. 74Roger ShermanRoger Sherman1721–1793 · 🇺🇸 United States · Politicians22 decades
  75. 75Suzuki HarunobuSuzuki Harunobu1724–1770 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Artists0 decades
  76. 76Thomas GrayThomas Gray1716–1771 · Writers22 decades
  77. 77James HargreavesJames Hargreaves1720–1778 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Scientists17 decades
  78. 78Heraclius II of GeorgiaHeraclius II of Georgia1720–17980 decades
  79. 79Hyder AliHyder Ali1720–1782 · 🇮🇳 India · Politicians22 decades
  80. 80François Joseph Paul de GrasseFrançois Joseph Paul de Grasse1722–1788 · 🇫🇷 Francenot measured—
  81. 81JMJohn Michell1724–1793 · Academics19 decades
  82. 82Princess Mary of Great BritainPrincess Mary of Great Britain1723–1772 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdomnot measured—
  83. 83Princess Philippine Charlotte of PrussiaPrincess Philippine Charlotte of Prussia1716–1801 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures0 decades
  84. 84Friedrich II, Landgrave of Hesse-KasselFriedrich II, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel1720–1785 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures17 decades
  85. 85John SmeatonJohn Smeaton1724–1792 · Scientists21 decades
  86. 86Flora MacDonaldFlora MacDonald1722–1790 · Historical Figures12 decades
  87. 87Gerard MajellaGerard Majella1726–1755 · Religious Figures9 decades
  88. 88John ByronJohn Byron1723–1786 · Politicians22 decades
  89. 89Ernest Frederick of Saxe-Coburg-SaalfeldErnest Frederick of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld1724–1800 · Historical Figures22 decades
  90. 90Xenia of Saint PetersburgXenia of Saint Petersburg1719–1803not measured—
  91. 91Siraj ud-DaulahSiraj ud-Daulah1733–1757 · 🇮🇳 India · Historical Figures0 decades
  92. 92Carl Friedrich AbelCarl Friedrich Abel1723–1787 · Musicians1 decades
  93. 93Countess Palatine Caroline of ZweibrückenCountess Palatine Caroline of Zweibrücken1721–1774 · Politicians0 decades
  94. 94Jezzar PashaJezzar Pasha1722–1804 · 🇹🇷 Turkey0 decades
  95. 95Frederick Michael, Count Palatine of ZweibrückenFrederick Michael, Count Palatine of Zweibrücken1724–1767 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  96. 96Charles BonnetCharles Bonnet1720–1793 · Academics22 decades
  97. 97Mir Taqi MirMir Taqi Mir1723–1810 · Writers0 decades
  98. 98Sophia Dorothea of PrussiaSophia Dorothea of Prussia1719–1765 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Modelsnot measured—
  99. 99Giovanni Antonio ScopoliGiovanni Antonio Scopoli1723–1788 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Doctors5 decades
  100. 100Gaspar de PortolàGaspar de Portolà1716–1786 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Historical Figures8 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.