Claim profile
1600–1699

The 17th century

Whose working lives fell in the 17th century. 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 17th century, ranked where Wikipedia coverage and readership agree.

CountryAll🇫🇷 France🇩🇪 Germany🇬🇧 United Kingdom🇯🇵 Japan🇹🇷 Turkey🇳🇱 Netherlands🇪🇸 Spain🇮🇹 Italy🇸🇪 Sweden🇨🇳 China
FieldAllWritersPoliticiansHistorical FiguresArtistsAcademicsScientistsMusiciansReligious FiguresActorsModels
  1. 1MolièreMolière1622–1673 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers22 decades
  2. 2Isaac NewtonIsaac Newton1642–1727 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Academics22 decades
  3. 3Louis XIV of FranceLouis XIV of France1638–1715 · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures22 decades
  4. 4René DescartesRené Descartes1596–1650 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics22 decades
  5. 5Gottfried Wilhelm LeibnizGottfried Wilhelm Leibniz1646–1716 · Academics15 decades
  6. 6Baruch SpinozaBaruch Spinoza1632–1677 · 🇳🇱 Netherlands · Academics16 decades
  7. 7Oliver CromwellOliver Cromwell1599–1658 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Politicians22 decades
  8. 8CaravaggioCaravaggio1571–1610 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists22 decades
  9. 9RembrandtRembrandt1606–1669 · 🇳🇱 Netherlands · Artists22 decades
  10. 10Blaise PascalBlaise Pascal1623–1662 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics22 decades
  11. 11Cardinal RichelieuCardinal Richelieu1585–1642 · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figuresnot measured—
  12. 12Charles I of EnglandCharles I of England1600–1649 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Historical Figures12 decades
  13. 13Jean de La FontaineJean de La Fontaine1621–1695 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers22 decades
  14. 14Diego VelázquezDiego Velázquez1599–1660 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Artists20 decades
  15. 15Johannes VermeerJohannes Vermeer1632–1675 · 🇳🇱 Netherlands · Artists3 decades
  16. 16James VI and IJames VI and I1566–1625 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Historical Figures5 decades
  17. 17Johannes KeplerJohannes Kepler1571–1630 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Academics18 decades
  18. 18John LockeJohn Locke1632–1704 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Academics22 decades
  19. 19Peter Paul RubensPeter Paul Rubens1577–1640 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Artists22 decades
  20. 20Charles II of SpainCharles II of Spain1661–1700 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Models18 decades
  21. 21Pierre CorneillePierre Corneille1606–1684 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers22 decades
  22. 22Charles II of EnglandCharles II of England1630–1685 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Historical Figures12 decades
  23. 23Jean RacineJean Racine1639–1699 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers22 decades
  24. 24Philip IV of SpainPhilip IV of Spain1605–1665 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Historical Figures20 decades
  25. 25Thomas HobbesThomas Hobbes1588–1679 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Academics22 decades
  26. 26Louis XIII of FranceLouis XIII of France1601–1643 · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians22 decades
  27. 27William III of EnglandWilliam III of England1650–1702 · 🇳🇱 Netherlands · Historical Figures2 decades
  28. 28Charles PerraultCharles Perrault1628–1703 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers22 decades
  29. 29James II of EnglandJames II of England1633–1701 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Historical Figures3 decades
  30. 30Pedro Calderón de la BarcaPedro Calderón de la Barca1600–1681 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Writers22 decades
  31. 31Alexis of RussiaAlexis of Russia1629–1676 · Historical Figures21 decades
  32. 32Francisco QuevedoFrancisco Quevedo1584–1645 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Writers22 decades
  33. 33Sor Juana Inés de la CruzSor Juana Inés de la Cruz1651–1695 · 🇲🇽 Mexico · Writers21 decades
  34. 34Philip III of SpainPhilip III of Spain1578–1621 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Models19 decades
  35. 35Michael of RussiaMichael of Russia1596–1645 · Historical Figures19 decades
  36. 36Miyamoto MusashiMiyamoto Musashi1584–1645 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Academics2 decades
  37. 37George I of Great BritainGeorge I of Great Britain1660–1727 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Politicians22 decades
  38. 38Gian Lorenzo BerniniGian Lorenzo Bernini1598–1680 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists13 decades
  39. 39Cardinal MazarinCardinal Mazarin1602–1661 · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figures20 decades
  40. 40Daniel DefoeDaniel Defoe1660–1731 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Writers22 decades
  41. 41Guy FawkesGuy Fawkes1570–1606 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Politicians22 decades
  42. 42Artemisia GentileschiArtemisia Gentileschi1593–1653 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists18 decades
  43. 43Pope Urban VIIIPope Urban VIII1568–1644 · Religious Figures22 decades
  44. 44Kangxi EmperorKangxi Emperor1654–1722 · 🇨🇳 China4 decades
  45. 45Ivan MazepaIvan Mazepa1639–1709 · Politicians14 decades
  46. 46Claudio MonteverdiClaudio Monteverdi1567–1643 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musicians14 decades
  47. 47Marie de' MediciMarie de' Medici1575–1642 · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians22 decades
  48. 48PocahontasPocahontas1596–1617 · 🇺🇸 United States · Writers22 decades
  49. 49Ivan V of RussiaIvan V of Russia1666–1696 · Historical Figures3 decades
  50. 50Gustavus Adolphus of SwedenGustavus Adolphus of Sweden1594–1632 · 🇸🇪 Sweden13 decades
  51. 51Pope Benedict XIIIPope Benedict XIII1649–1730 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Religious Figures20 decades
  52. 52Nicolas PoussinNicolas Poussin1594–1665 · 🇫🇷 France · Artists22 decades
  53. 53Christiaan HuygensChristiaan Huygens1629–1695 · 🇳🇱 Netherlands · Academics7 decades
  54. 54Prince Eugene of SavoyPrince Eugene of Savoy1663–1736 · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures22 decades
  55. 55John MiltonJohn Milton1608–1674 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Writers22 decades
  56. 56Pierre de FermatPierre de Fermat1607–1665 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics8 decades
  57. 57Leopold I, Holy Roman EmperorLeopold I, Holy Roman Emperor1640–1705 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures22 decades
  58. 58François de La RochefoucauldFrançois de La Rochefoucauld1613–1680 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers18 decades
  59. 59Jean-Baptiste ColbertJean-Baptiste Colbert1619–1683 · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians22 decades
  60. 60Rose of LimaRose of Lima1586–1617 · Religious Figures22 decades
  61. 61John III SobieskiJohn III Sobieski1629–1696 · Historical Figures10 decades
  62. 62Shah JahanShah Jahan1592–1666 · Historical Figures16 decades
  63. 63Mary II of EnglandMary II of England1662–1694 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Historical Figures0 decades
  64. 64Jean-Baptiste LullyJean-Baptiste Lully1632–1687 · Musicians6 decades
  65. 65False Dmitry IFalse Dmitry I1600–1606 · Historical Figures10 decades
  66. 66Cyrano de BergeracCyrano de Bergerac1619–1655 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers0 decades
  67. 67Ferdinand II, Holy Roman EmperorFerdinand II, Holy Roman Emperor1578–1637 · 🇦🇹 Austria · Historical Figures22 decades
  68. 68Bartolomé Esteban MurilloBartolomé Esteban Murillo1617–1682 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Artists20 decades
  69. 69Christina, Queen of SwedenChristina, Queen of Sweden1626–1689 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  70. 70Francis de SalesFrancis de Sales1567–1622 · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figures22 decades
  71. 71Samuel de ChamplainSamuel de Champlain1567–1635 · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures17 decades
  72. 72Pope Clement XIPope Clement XI1649–1721 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Religious Figures22 decades
  73. 73AurangzebAurangzeb1618–1707 · 🇮🇳 India · Historical Figures20 decades
  74. 74Pope Alexander VIIPope Alexander VII1599–1667 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Religious Figures22 decades
  75. 75John Amos ComeniusJohn Amos Comenius1592–1670 · Educators17 decades
  76. 76Francisco de ZurbaránFrancisco de Zurbarán1598–1664 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Artists12 decades
  77. 77Stepan RazinStepan Razin1630–167112 decades
  78. 78Madame de SévignéMadame de Sévigné1626–1696 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers13 decades
  79. 79Nicolas Boileau-DespréauxNicolas Boileau-Despréaux1636–1711 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers22 decades
  80. 80Pope Innocent XIPope Innocent XI1611–1689 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Religious Figures22 decades
  81. 81Antonio StradivariAntonio Stradivari1644–1737 · 🇮🇹 Italy15 decades
  82. 82Frederick I of PrussiaFrederick I of Prussia1657–1713 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Politicians22 decades
  83. 83Francesco BorrominiFrancesco Borromini1599–1667 · 🇨🇭 Switzerland · Architects20 decades
  84. 84Anthony van DyckAnthony van Dyck1599–1641 · Artists4 decades
  85. 85Tommaso CampanellaTommaso Campanella1568–1639 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Academics22 decades
  86. 86Anne of AustriaAnne of Austria1601–1666 · 🇪🇸 Spainnot measured—
  87. 87Henry PurcellHenry Purcell1659–1695 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Musicians22 decades
  88. 88Baltasar GraciánBaltasar Gracián1604–1658 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Writers14 decades
  89. 89Sébastien Le Prestre de VaubanSébastien Le Prestre de Vauban1633–1707 · 🇫🇷 France · Scientists2 decades
  90. 90Maria Sibylla MerianMaria Sibylla Merian1647–1717 · 🇳🇱 Netherlands · Scientists9 decades
  91. 91Robert HookeRobert Hooke1635–1703 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Academics22 decades
  92. 92Jean de La BruyèreJean de La Bruyère1645–1696 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers17 decades
  93. 93François FénelonFrançois Fénelon1651–1715 · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figures22 decades
  94. 94Hugo GrotiusHugo Grotius1583–1645 · 🇳🇱 Netherlands · Academics22 decades
  95. 95Vincent de PaulVincent de Paul1581–1660 · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figures22 decades
  96. 96Sophia Alekseyevna of RussiaSophia Alekseyevna of Russia1657–1704 · Politicians16 decades
  97. 97JPJohann Pachelbel1653–1706 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Musicians9 decades
  98. 98Antonie van LeeuwenhoekAntonie van Leeuwenhoek1632–1723 · 🇳🇱 Netherlands · Scientists7 decades
  99. 99Philippe I, Duke of OrléansPhilippe I, Duke of Orléans1640–1701 · 🇫🇷 France22 decades
  100. 100Pope Clement IXPope Clement IX1600–1669 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Religious Figures20 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.