Claim profile
1770–1779

The 1770s

Whose working lives fell in the 1770s. 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 1770s, ranked where Wikipedia coverage and readership agree.

  1. 1Thomas JeffersonThomas Jefferson1743–1826 · 🇺🇸 United States · Politicians22 decades
  2. 2George III of the United KingdomGeorge III of the United Kingdom1738–1820 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Historical Figures0 decades
  3. 3Marquis de SadeMarquis de Sade1740–1814 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics12 decades
  4. 4Antoine LavoisierAntoine Lavoisier1743–1794 · 🇫🇷 France · Scientists2 decades
  5. 5John AdamsJohn Adams1735–1826 · 🇺🇸 United States · Politicians22 decades
  6. 6Joseph II, Holy Roman EmperorJoseph II, Holy Roman Emperor1741–1790 · 🇦🇹 Austria · Historical Figures22 decades
  7. 7Jean-Paul MaratJean-Paul Marat1743–1793 · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians19 decades
  8. 8James WattJames Watt1736–1819 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Scientists22 decades
  9. 9Johann Gottfried HerderJohann Gottfried Herder1744–1803 · Academics18 decades
  10. 10Yemelyan PugachevYemelyan Pugachev1742–1775 · Activists18 decades
  11. 11Pope Pius VIIPope Pius VII1742–1823 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Religious Figures22 decades
  12. 12Grigory PotemkinGrigory Potemkin1739–1791 · Politicians16 decades
  13. 13Marquis de CondorcetMarquis de Condorcet1743–1794 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics1 decades
  14. 14Toussaint LouvertureToussaint Louverture1743–1803 · Politicians22 decades
  15. 15Gavrila DerzhavinGavrila Derzhavin1743–1816 · Writers17 decades
  16. 16Jean-Baptiste LamarckJean-Baptiste Lamarck1744–1829 · 🇫🇷 France · Scientists2 decades
  17. 17Madame du BarryMadame du Barry1743–1793 · 🇫🇷 France · Musicians22 decades
  18. 18Thomas PaineThomas Paine1737–1809 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Academics22 decades
  19. 19William HerschelWilliam Herschel1738–1822 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientists22 decades
  20. 20Joseph-Louis LagrangeJoseph-Louis Lagrange1736–1813 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics0 decades
  21. 21Charlotte of Mecklenburg-StrelitzCharlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz1744–1818 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  22. 22Túpac Amaru IITúpac Amaru II1738–1781 · Politicians9 decades
  23. 23Georg Christoph LichtenbergGeorg Christoph Lichtenberg1742–1799 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientists17 decades
  24. 24Gebhard Leberecht von BlücherGebhard Leberecht von Blücher1742–1819 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures3 decades
  25. 25Cesare BeccariaCesare Beccaria1738–1794 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Academics22 decades
  26. 26Frederick William II of PrussiaFrederick William II of Prussia1744–1797 · Historical Figures22 decades
  27. 27Pierre Choderlos de LaclosPierre Choderlos de Laclos1741–1803 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers2 decades
  28. 28Jean-François de Galaup, comte de La PérouseJean-François de Galaup, comte de La Pérouse1741–1788 · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  29. 29Johann Christian BachJohann Christian Bach1735–1782 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Musicians12 decades
  30. 30Luigi GalvaniLuigi Galvani1737–1798 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Doctors22 decades
  31. 31Benedict ArnoldBenedict Arnold1741–1801 · 🇺🇸 United States · Business Professionals22 decades
  32. 32Angelica KauffmanAngelica Kauffman1741–1807 · 🇨🇭 Switzerland · Artists18 decades
  33. 33Mayer Amschel RothschildMayer Amschel Rothschild1744–1812 · Business Professionals4 decades
  34. 34Edward GibbonEdward Gibbon1737–1794 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Writers22 decades
  35. 35Charles-Augustin de CoulombCharles-Augustin de Coulomb1736–1806 · 🇫🇷 France · Scientists0 decades
  36. 36Joseph-Ignace GuillotinJoseph-Ignace Guillotin1738–1814 · 🇫🇷 France · Doctors0 decades
  37. 37Nicolas ChamfortNicolas Chamfort1740–1794 · 🇫🇷 France · Journalistsnot measured—
  38. 38Luigi BoccheriniLuigi Boccherini1743–1805 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musicians13 decades
  39. 39Matthias ClaudiusMatthias Claudius1740–1815 · Writers22 decades
  40. 40Alessandro CagliostroAlessandro Cagliostro1743–1795 · 🇫🇷 France · Doctors22 decades
  41. 41Jeanne BaretJeanne Baret1740–1807 · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures0 decades
  42. 42Jacques-Henri Bernardin de Saint-PierreJacques-Henri Bernardin de Saint-Pierre1737–1814 · 🇫🇷 France · Writersnot measured—
  43. 43Caroline Matilda of Great BritainCaroline Matilda of Great Britain1751–1775 · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  44. 44Charles Cornwallis, 1st Marquess CornwallisCharles Cornwallis, 1st Marquess Cornwallis1738–1805 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Politiciansnot measured—
  45. 45Henry FuseliHenry Fuseli1741–1825 · 🇨🇭 Switzerland · Artists10 decades
  46. 46Carl Wilhelm ScheeleCarl Wilhelm Scheele1742–1786 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Scientists8 decades
  47. 47Giovanni PaisielloGiovanni Paisiello1740–1816 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musicians22 decades
  48. 48Johann Friedrich StruenseeJohann Friedrich Struensee1737–1772 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Politicians5 decades
  49. 49Johann Kaspar LavaterJohann Kaspar Lavater1741–1801 · 🇨🇭 Switzerland · Writers17 decades
  50. 50Paul ReverePaul Revere1735–1818 · 🇺🇸 United States · Founders21 decades
  51. 51Abigail AdamsAbigail Adams1744–1818 · 🇺🇸 United States · Politicians16 decades
  52. 52Thomas ChattertonThomas Chatterton1752–1770 · Writers22 decades
  53. 53Jean Sylvain BaillyJean Sylvain Bailly1736–1793 · 🇫🇷 France · Scientists0 decades
  54. 54Yekaterina DashkovaYekaterina Dashkova1743–1810 · Writers1 decades
  55. 55Antoine-Augustin ParmentierAntoine-Augustin Parmentier1737–1813 · 🇫🇷 France · Scientists0 decades
  56. 56Agha Mohammad Khan QajarAgha Mohammad Khan Qajar1742–1797 · Politicians0 decades
  57. 57Alexei Grigoryevich OrlovAlexei Grigoryevich Orlov1737–1807 · Politicians17 decades
  58. 58Maria Christina, Duchess of TeschenMaria Christina, Duchess of Teschen1742–1798 · 🇦🇹 Austria · Historical Figures22 decades
  59. 59Michael HaydnMichael Haydn1737–1806 · 🇦🇹 Austria · Musicians22 decades
  60. 60Joseph BanksJoseph Banks1743–1820 · Scientists22 decades
  61. 61Charles François DumouriezCharles François Dumouriez1739–1823 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers0 decades
  62. 62John HancockJohn Hancock1737–1793 · 🇺🇸 United States · Politicians22 decades
  63. 63Isabelle de CharrièreIsabelle de Charrière1740–1805 · 🇳🇱 Netherlands · Writers5 decades
  64. 64Phutthayotfa ChulalokPhutthayotfa Chulalok1737–1809 · Historical Figures0 decades
  65. 65Peter Simon PallasPeter Simon Pallas1741–1811 · Scientists9 decades
  66. 66Gaspar Melchor de JovellanosGaspar Melchor de Jovellanos1744–1811 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Politicians22 decades
  67. 67François Christophe de KellermannFrançois Christophe de Kellermann1735–1820 · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians0 decades
  68. 68Charles William Ferdinand, Duke of BrunswickCharles William Ferdinand, Duke of Brunswick1735–1806 · 🇩🇪 Germany22 decades
  69. 69Friedrich Heinrich JacobiFriedrich Heinrich Jacobi1743–1819 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Academics22 decades
  70. 70Horace Bénédict de SaussureHorace Bénédict de Saussure1740–1799 · 🇫🇷 France · Scientists2 decades
  71. 71Charles-Joseph, 7th Prince of LigneCharles-Joseph, 7th Prince of Ligne1735–1814 · Writers7 decades
  72. 72André GrétryAndré Grétry1741–1813 · 🇫🇷 France · Musicians0 decades
  73. 73Martin Heinrich KlaprothMartin Heinrich Klaproth1743–1817 · Scientists7 decades
  74. 74Elbridge GerryElbridge Gerry1744–1814 · 🇺🇸 United States · Politicians22 decades
  75. 75Charles-Henri SansonCharles-Henri Sanson1739–1806 · 🇫🇷 France · Doctors1 decades
  76. 76Patrick HenryPatrick Henry1736–1799 · 🇺🇸 United States · Politicians22 decades
  77. 77Duchess Anna Amalia of Brunswick-WolfenbüttelDuchess Anna Amalia of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel1739–1807 · Musiciansnot measured—
  78. 78James BoswellJames Boswell1740–1795 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Writers22 decades
  79. 79Archduchess Maria Anna of AustriaArchduchess Maria Anna of Austria1738–1789 · 🇦🇹 Austria · Historical Figures0 decades
  80. 80James MacphersonJames Macpherson1736–1796 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Writers22 decades
  81. 81Carl Michael BellmanCarl Michael Bellman1740–1795 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Writers0 decades
  82. 82Arthur PhillipArthur Phillip1738–1814 · Politicians11 decades
  83. 83Louis Joseph, Prince of CondéLouis Joseph, Prince of Condé1736–1818 · 🇫🇷 France · Politiciansnot measured—
  84. 84Jean-Antoine HoudonJean-Antoine Houdon1741–1828 · 🇫🇷 France · Artists3 decades
  85. 85Josef MyslivečekJosef Mysliveček1737–1781 · Musiciansnot measured—
  86. 86Archduchess Maria Elisabeth of AustriaArchduchess Maria Elisabeth of Austria1743–1808 · 🇦🇹 Austrianot measured—
  87. 87William Cavendish-Bentinck, 3rd Duke of PortlandWilliam Cavendish-Bentinck, 3rd Duke of Portland1738–1809 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Politiciansnot measured—
  88. 88Carl Peter ThunbergCarl Peter Thunberg1743–1828 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Scientists0 decades
  89. 89William I, Elector of HesseWilliam I, Elector of Hesse1743–1821 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures22 decades
  90. 90Lizzie VelasquezLizzie Velasquezborn 1743 · 🇺🇸 United States · Writers0 decades
  91. 91Carl Ditters von DittersdorfCarl Ditters von Dittersdorf1739–1799 · Musicians3 decades
  92. 92Claude Nicolas LedouxClaude Nicolas Ledoux1736–1806 · 🇫🇷 France · Architects5 decades
  93. 93Rudolf Erich RaspeRudolf Erich Raspe1736–1794 · Writers5 decades
  94. 94Karl Theodor von DalbergKarl Theodor von Dalberg1744–1817 · Writers19 decades
  95. 95Princess Augusta of Great BritainPrincess Augusta of Great Britain1737–1813 · Historical Figures0 decades
  96. 96Go-SakuramachiGo-Sakuramachi1740–1813 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politicians0 decades
  97. 97Nathanael GreeneNathanael Greene1742–1786 · 🇺🇸 United States17 decades
  98. 98John Singleton CopleyJohn Singleton Copley1738–1815 · 🇺🇸 United States · Artists21 decades
  99. 99Go-MomozonoGo-Momozono1758–1779 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Historical Figures0 decades
  100. 100Natalia Alexeievna of RussiaNatalia Alexeievna of Russia1755–1776 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Politiciansnot 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.