Claim profile
1780–1789

The 1780s

Whose working lives fell in the 1780s. 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 1780s, ranked where Wikipedia coverage and readership agree.

  1. 1Johann Wolfgang von GoetheJohann Wolfgang von Goethe1749–1832 · Writers14 decades
  2. 2Louis XVI of FranceLouis XVI of France1754–1793 · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures22 decades
  3. 3Francisco GoyaFrancisco Goya1746–1828 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Artists18 decades
  4. 4Paul I of RussiaPaul I of Russia1754–1801 · Historical Figures21 decades
  5. 5Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-PérigordCharles Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord1754–1839 · 🇫🇷 France · Politiciansnot measured—
  6. 6Alessandro VoltaAlessandro Volta1745–1827 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Scientists22 decades
  7. 7Olympe de GougesOlympe de Gouges1748–1793 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers22 decades
  8. 8Jacques-Louis DavidJacques-Louis David1748–1825 · 🇫🇷 France · Artists7 decades
  9. 9Mikhail KutuzovMikhail Kutuzov1747–1813 · Politicians8 decades
  10. 10Pierre-Simon LaplacePierre-Simon Laplace1749–1827 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics2 decades
  11. 11James MadisonJames Madison1751–1836 · 🇺🇸 United States · Politicians22 decades
  12. 12Antonio SalieriAntonio Salieri1750–1825 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musicians15 decades
  13. 13Charles IV of SpainCharles IV of Spain1748–1819 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Historical Figures17 decades
  14. 14Leopold II, Holy Roman EmperorLeopold II, Holy Roman Emperor1747–1792 · 🇦🇹 Austria · Politiciansnot measured—
  15. 15Miguel Hidalgo Y CostillaMiguel Hidalgo Y Costilla1753–1811 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Religious Figures21 decades
  16. 16Johann Heinrich PestalozziJohann Heinrich Pestalozzi1746–1827 · 🇨🇭 Switzerland · Educators2 decades
  17. 17Jeremy BenthamJeremy Bentham1748–1832 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Academics22 decades
  18. 18Honoré Gabriel Riqueti, comte de MirabeauHonoré Gabriel Riqueti, comte de Mirabeau1749–1791 · 🇫🇷 France · Writersnot measured—
  19. 19Vittorio AlfieriVittorio Alfieri1749–1803 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Historical Figures22 decades
  20. 20Francisco de MirandaFrancisco de Miranda1750–1816 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Politicians22 decades
  21. 21Edward JennerEdward Jenner1749–1823 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Doctors22 decades
  22. 22Emmanuel Joseph SieyèsEmmanuel Joseph Sieyès1748–1836 · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians0 decades
  23. 23Joseph de MaistreJoseph de Maistre1753–1821 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics21 decades
  24. 24Christian VII of DenmarkChristian VII of Denmark1749–1808 · Historical Figures0 decades
  25. 25Denis FonvizinDenis Fonvizin1745–1792 · Writers9 decades
  26. 26Seraphim of SarovSeraphim of Sarov1754–183314 decades
  27. 27Lazare CarnotLazare Carnot1753–1823 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics14 decades
  28. 28Alexander RadishchevAlexander Radishchev1749–1802 · Writers16 decades
  29. 29Maria Anna MozartMaria Anna Mozart1751–1829 · 🇦🇹 Austria · Musicians3 decades
  30. 30Manon RolandManon Roland1754–1793 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers10 decades
  31. 31Adam WeishauptAdam Weishaupt1748–1830 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Academics18 decades
  32. 32Carlo BuonaparteCarlo Buonaparte1746–1785 · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians20 decades
  33. 33Tadeusz KościuszkoTadeusz Kościuszko1746–1817 · Scientists0 decades
  34. 34Ferdinand I of the Two SiciliesFerdinand I of the Two Sicilies1751–1825 · 🇮🇹 Italynot measured—
  35. 35Nicolas AppertNicolas Appert1749–1841 · 🇫🇷 France · Scientists6 decades
  36. 36Maria Carolina of AustriaMaria Carolina of Austria1752–1814 · 🇦🇹 Austria · Historical Figures0 decades
  37. 37Gaspard MongeGaspard Monge1746–1818 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics22 decades
  38. 38Gustav III of SwedenGustav III of Sweden1746–1792 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Politicians22 decades
  39. 39Maria Luisa of ParmaMaria Luisa of Parma1751–1819 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Historical Figures17 decades
  40. 40Letizia RamolinoLetizia Ramolino1750–1836 · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures3 decades
  41. 41Caroline HerschelCaroline Herschel1750–1848 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientists10 decades
  42. 42Lorenzo Da PonteLorenzo Da Ponte1749–1838 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers19 decades
  43. 43Charles XIII of SwedenCharles XIII of Sweden1748–1818 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Historical Figures0 decades
  44. 44Louis Philippe II, Duke of OrléansLouis Philippe II, Duke of Orléans1747–1793 · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians22 decades
  45. 45Louis-Alexandre BerthierLouis-Alexandre Berthier1753–1815 · 🇫🇷 France · Artists1 decades
  46. 46Ali Pasha of IoanninaAli Pasha of Ioannina1750–1822 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Politicians0 decades
  47. 47William BlighWilliam Bligh1754–1817 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Politicians16 decades
  48. 48Georg ForsterGeorg Forster1754–1794 · Writers22 decades
  49. 49Jean-Baptiste KléberJean-Baptiste Kléber1753–1800 · 🇫🇷 France · Architects0 decades
  50. 50Frederick Augustus I of SaxonyFrederick Augustus I of Saxony1750–1827 · 🇩🇪 Germany22 decades
  51. 51Adrien-Marie LegendreAdrien-Marie Legendre1752–1833 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics0 decades
  52. 52Domenico CimarosaDomenico Cimarosa1749–1801 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musicians22 decades
  53. 53Jacques Pierre BrissotJacques Pierre Brissot1754–1793 · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians0 decades
  54. 54Muzio ClementiMuzio Clementi1752–1832 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musicians17 decades
  55. 55Louis Joseph, Dauphin of FranceLouis Joseph, Dauphin of France1781–1789 · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  56. 56Johann Friedrich BlumenbachJohann Friedrich Blumenbach1752–1840 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Doctors11 decades
  57. 57Gottfried August BürgerGottfried August Bürger1747–1794 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writers22 decades
  58. 58Adolph Freiherr KniggeAdolph Freiherr Knigge1752–1796 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writers1 decades
  59. 59Maria Luisa of SpainMaria Luisa of Spain1745–1792 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Politicians15 decades
  60. 60Dmytro BortnianskyiDmytro Bortnianskyi1751–1825 · Musicians3 decades
  61. 61Joseph JoubertJoseph Joubert1754–1824 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers14 decades
  62. 62Marie Thérèse Louise of Savoy, Princesse de LamballeMarie Thérèse Louise of Savoy, Princesse de Lamballe1749–1792 · 🇫🇷 Francenot measured—
  63. 63Antoine de RivarolAntoine de Rivarol1753–1801 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers3 decades
  64. 64Philippe PinelPhilippe Pinel1745–1826 · 🇫🇷 France · Doctors11 decades
  65. 65Tipu SultanTipu Sultan1750–1799 · 🇮🇳 India · Politicians15 decades
  66. 66Vivant DenonVivant Denon1747–1825 · 🇫🇷 France · Artists22 decades
  67. 67Olaudah EquianoOlaudah Equiano1745–1797 · Writers4 decades
  68. 68Kitagawa UtamaroKitagawa Utamaro1753–1806 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Artists0 decades
  69. 69Frederick I of WürttembergFrederick I of Württemberg1754–1816 · Historical Figures8 decades
  70. 70Claude Louis BertholletClaude Louis Berthollet1748–1822 · 🇫🇷 France · Doctors1 decades
  71. 71John JayJohn Jay1745–1829 · 🇺🇸 United States · Politicians22 decades
  72. 72Phillis WheatleyPhillis Wheatley1753–1784 · 🇺🇸 United States · Writers16 decades
  73. 73Louis de BonaldLouis de Bonald1754–1840 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics7 decades
  74. 74Benjamin ThompsonBenjamin Thompson1753–1814 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists22 decades
  75. 75Giuseppe PiazziGiuseppe Piazzi1746–1826 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Academics22 decades
  76. 76Joseph Marie JacquardJoseph Marie Jacquard1752–1834 · 🇫🇷 France · Scientists0 decades
  77. 77William V, Prince of OrangeWilliam V, Prince of Orange1748–1806 · 🇳🇱 Netherlands · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  78. 78Jean-François Pilatre de RozierJean-François Pilatre de Rozier1754–1785 · 🇫🇷 France · Scientistsnot measured—
  79. 79Uthman Dan FodioUthman Dan Fodio1754–1817 · Writers0 decades
  80. 80Emanuel SchikanederEmanuel Schikaneder1751–1812 · Actors15 decades
  81. 81Yolande de PolastronYolande de Polastron1749–1793 · 🇫🇷 France0 decades
  82. 82Jakob Michael Reinhold LenzJakob Michael Reinhold Lenz1751–1792 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writers10 decades
  83. 83Antoine Laurent de JussieuAntoine Laurent de Jussieu1748–1836 · 🇫🇷 France · Scientists20 decades
  84. 84Adélaïde Labille-GuiardAdélaïde Labille-Guiard1749–1803 · 🇫🇷 France · Artists1 decades
  85. 85Henri GrégoireHenri Grégoire1750–1831 · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figures18 decades
  86. 86Stéphanie Félicité Ducrest de Saint-Aubin de GenlisStéphanie Félicité Ducrest de Saint-Aubin de Genlis1746–1830 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers0 decades
  87. 87Francis, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-SaalfeldFrancis, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld1750–1806 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  88. 88Marie Joséphine of SavoyMarie Joséphine of Savoy1753–1810 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Historical Figures0 decades
  89. 89William JonesWilliam Jones1746–1794 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Academics22 decades
  90. 90Karl August von HardenbergKarl August von Hardenberg1750–1822 · Politicians9 decades
  91. 91Archduchess Maria Amalia of AustriaArchduchess Maria Amalia of Austria1746–1804 · 🇦🇹 Austria · Historical Figures0 decades
  92. 92Frances BurneyFrances Burney1752–1840 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Writers13 decades
  93. 93Benjamin RushBenjamin Rush1746–1813 · 🇺🇸 United States · Doctors22 decades
  94. 94Chevalier de Saint-GeorgesChevalier de Saint-Georges1745–1799 · 🇫🇷 France · Musiciansnot measured—
  95. 95Jacques CharlesJacques Charles1746–1823 · 🇫🇷 France · Scientists13 decades
  96. 96Ferdinando I, Duke of ParmaFerdinando I, Duke of Parma1751–1802 · Historical Figures0 decades
  97. 97Carlo Emanuele IV of SardiniaCarlo Emanuele IV of Sardinia1751–1819 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  98. 98Jean Jacques Régis de CambacérèsJean Jacques Régis de Cambacérès1753–1824 · 🇫🇷 France · Politiciansnot measured—
  99. 99King AndrianampoinimerinaKing Andrianampoinimerina1745–18100 decades
  100. 100Bon-Adrien Jeannot de MonceyBon-Adrien Jeannot de Moncey1754–1842 · 🇫🇷 France · 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.