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. 1Sébastien Le Prestre de VaubanSébastien Le Prestre de Vauban1633–1707 · 🇫🇷 France · Scientists2 decades
  2. 2Maria Sibylla MerianMaria Sibylla Merian1647–1717 · 🇳🇱 Netherlands · Scientists9 decades
  3. 3Antonie van LeeuwenhoekAntonie van Leeuwenhoek1632–1723 · 🇳🇱 Netherlands · Scientists7 decades
  4. 4Feodor II of RussiaFeodor II of Russia1589–1605 · Scientistsnot measured—
  5. 5Denis PapinDenis Papin1647–1713 · 🇫🇷 France · Scientists19 decades
  6. 6Otto von GuerickeOtto von Guericke1602–1686 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientists10 decades
  7. 7Evangelista TorricelliEvangelista Torricelli1608–1647 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Scientists22 decades
  8. 8Edmond HalleyEdmond Halley1656–1742 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Scientists6 decades
  9. 9Thomas NewcomenThomas Newcomen1664–1729 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Scientists15 decades
  10. 10Johannes HeveliusJohannes Hevelius1611–1687 · Scientists3 decades
  11. 11Bartolomeo CristoforiBartolomeo Cristofori1655–1731 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Scientists0 decades
  12. 12Matthäus MerianMatthäus Merian1593–1650 · 🇨🇭 Switzerland · Scientists18 decades
  13. 13Prince Rupert of the RhinePrince Rupert of the Rhine1619–1682 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientistsnot measured—
  14. 14Jan Baptist van HelmontJan Baptist van Helmont1577–1644 · Scientists0 decades
  15. 15Hans LippersheyHans Lippershey1570–1619 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientists1 decades
  16. 16Willebrord SnelliusWillebrord Snellius1580–1626 · Scientists1 decades
  17. 17Joseph Pitton de TournefortJoseph Pitton de Tournefort1656–1708 · 🇫🇷 France · Scientists5 decades
  18. 18Engelbert KaempferEngelbert Kaempfer1651–1716 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientists7 decades
  19. 19Hans SloaneHans Sloane1660–1753 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Scientists22 decades
  20. 20Johann Rudolf GlauberJohann Rudolf Glauber1604–1670 · Scientists0 decades
  21. 21Edme MariotteEdme Mariotte1620–1684 · 🇫🇷 France · Scientists0 decades
  22. 22Nicolas-Claude Fabri de PeirescNicolas-Claude Fabri de Peiresc1580–1637 · Scientistsnot measured—
  23. 23John FlamsteedJohn Flamsteed1646–1719 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Scientists7 decades
  24. 24Thomas SaveryThomas Savery1650–1715 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Scientists5 decades
  25. 25Johann BayerJohann Bayer1572–1625 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientists8 decades
  26. 26John RayJohn Ray1627–1705 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Scientists22 decades
  27. 27Johann Adam Schall von BellJohann Adam Schall von Bell1592–1666 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientists5 decades
  28. 28Johann Joachim BecherJohann Joachim Becher1635–1682 · Scientists16 decades
  29. 29Cornelis DrebbelCornelis Drebbel1572–1633 · Scientistsnot measured—
  30. 30Hennig BrandHennig Brand1630–1710 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientists0 decades
  31. 31Eusebio KinoEusebio Kino1645–1711 · Scientists12 decades
  32. 32Olaus RudbeckOlaus Rudbeck1630–1702 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Scientists4 decades
  33. 33Jeremiah HorrocksJeremiah Horrocks1618–1641 · Scientists1 decades
  34. 34Hezârfen Ahmet ÇelebiHezârfen Ahmet Çelebi1609–1640 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Scientistsnot measured—
  35. 35Pierre Le Moyne d'IbervillePierre Le Moyne d'Iberville1661–1706 · 🇫🇷 France · Scientists6 decades
  36. 36Joan BlaeuJoan Blaeu1596–1673 · Scientists0 decades
  37. 37Willem BlaeuWillem Blaeu1571–1638 · Scientists0 decades
  38. 38Martino MartiniMartino Martini1614–1661 · Scientists19 decades
  39. 39Christopher PolhemChristopher Polhem1661–1751 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Scientists0 decades
  40. 40GTGiulia Tofanadied 1651 · Scientists0 decades
  41. 41Frederik RuyschFrederik Ruysch1638–1731 · Scientists0 decades
  42. 42Guillaume Le Vasseur de BeauplanGuillaume Le Vasseur de Beauplan1595–1673 · Scientists0 decades
  43. 43Nicolas Fatio de DuillierNicolas Fatio de Duillier1664–1753 · Scientists0 decades
  44. 44Lagâri Hasan ÇelebiLagâri Hasan Çelebi1600–1700 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Scientistsnot measured—
  45. 45Erik DahlberghErik Dahlbergh1625–1703 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Scientists0 decades
  46. 46Francesco Maria GrimaldiFrancesco Maria Grimaldi1618–1663 · Scientists0 decades
  47. 47Jean PicardJean Picard1620–1682 · 🇫🇷 France · Scientists22 decades
  48. 48Maria CunitzMaria Cunitz1607–1664 · Scientists2 decades
  49. 49Frederick de HoutmanFrederick de Houtman1571–1627 · Scientists0 decades
  50. 50Michał BoymMichał Boym1612–1659 · Scientistsnot measured—
  51. 51Princess Anna of SwedenPrincess Anna of Sweden1568–1625 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Scientists0 decades
  52. 52Johann Weikhard von ValvasorJohann Weikhard von Valvasor1641–1693 · Scientists0 decades
  53. 53Charles PlumierCharles Plumier1646–1704 · 🇫🇷 France · Scientists3 decades
  54. 54Guillaume AmontonsGuillaume Amontons1663–1705 · 🇫🇷 France · Scientists0 decades
  55. 55Christoph ScheinerChristoph Scheiner1573–1650 · Scientists0 decades
  56. 56Menno van CoehoornMenno van Coehoorn1641–1704 · 🇳🇱 Netherlands · Scientists0 decades
  57. 57Kazimierz SiemienowiczKazimierz Siemienowicz1600–1651 · Scientists0 decades
  58. 58Vincenzo CoronelliVincenzo Coronelli1650–1718 · Scientists6 decades
  59. 59Robert DudleyRobert Dudley1574–1649 · Scientists22 decades
  60. 60Carlos de Sigüenza y GóngoraCarlos de Sigüenza y Góngora1645–1700 · 🇲🇽 Mexico · Scientists21 decades
  61. 61Luigi Ferdinando MarsigliLuigi Ferdinando Marsigli1658–1730 · Scientists19 decades
  62. 62Andreas CellariusAndreas Cellarius1596–1665 · Scientists0 decades
  63. 63Elisabeth HeveliusElisabeth Hevelius1647–1693 · Scientistsnot measured—
  64. 64Pierre MagnolPierre Magnol1638–1715 · 🇫🇷 France · Scientists1 decades
  65. 65Edward LhuydEdward Lhuyd1660–1709 · Scientists4 decades
  66. 66Hendrik BrouwerHendrik Brouwer1581–1643 · Scientists0 decades
  67. 67Jean de ThévenotJean de Thévenot1633–1667 · Scientists0 decades
  68. 68Jan JanssoniusJan Janssonius1588–1664 · Scientists0 decades
  69. 69Nicolas SansonNicolas Sanson1600–1667 · 🇫🇷 France · Scientists19 decades
  70. 70Johann Christoph DennerJohann Christoph Denner1655–1707 · Scientists2 decades
  71. 71Johann HomannJohann Homann1664–1724 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientists4 decades
  72. 72Georg Eberhard RumphiusGeorg Eberhard Rumphius1627–1702 · Scientists0 decades
  73. 73Krzysztof ArciszewskiKrzysztof Arciszewski1592–1656 · Scientists0 decades
  74. 74Georg Joseph KamelGeorg Joseph Kamel1661–1706 · Scientists0 decades
  75. 75Francis WillughbyFrancis Willughby1635–1672 · Scientists1 decades
  76. 76Nicolae MilescuNicolae Milescu1636–1708 · Scientists0 decades
  77. 77Giovan Battista HodiernaGiovan Battista Hodierna1597–1660 · Scientists1 decades
  78. 78Philippe de La HirePhilippe de La Hire1640–1718 · 🇫🇷 France · Scientists4 decades
  79. 79HHHenricus Hondius II1597–1651 · Scientistsnot measured—
  80. 80Shibukawa ShunkaiShibukawa Shunkai1639–1715 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Scientists0 decades
  81. 81Pieter van der AaPieter van der Aa1659–1733 · Scientists0 decades
  82. 82John ParkinsonJohn Parkinson1567–1650 · Scientists22 decades
  83. 83Olof Rudbeck the YoungerOlof Rudbeck the Younger1660–1740 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Scientists0 decades
  84. 84Johann von Löwenstern-KunckelJohann von Löwenstern-Kunckel1630–1703 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientists0 decades
  85. 85Joachim BouvetJoachim Bouvet1656–1732 · 🇫🇷 France · Scientists1 decades
  86. 86Nicolas LemeryNicolas Lemery1645–1715 · 🇫🇷 France · Scientists11 decades
  87. 87Ismaël BullialdusIsmaël Bullialdus1605–1694 · Scientistsnot measured—
  88. 88Marie MeurdracMarie Meurdrac1610–1680 · 🇫🇷 France · Scientists0 decades
  89. 89LCLaurent Cassegrain1629–1693 · 🇫🇷 France · Scientistsnot measured—
  90. 90Francis HauksbeeFrancis Hauksbee1660–1713 · Scientists0 decades
  91. 91Herman MollHerman Moll1654–1732 · Scientists1 decades
  92. 92Gottfried KirchGottfried Kirch1639–1710 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientists9 decades
  93. 93Guy-Crescent FagonGuy-Crescent Fagon1638–1718 · 🇫🇷 France · Scientists0 decades
  94. 94Claes Janszoon Visscher IIClaes Janszoon Visscher II1586–1652 · 🇳🇱 Netherlands · Scientistsnot measured—
  95. 95Georg MarcgraveGeorg Marcgrave1610–1644 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientists0 decades
  96. 96John Tradescant the YoungerJohn Tradescant the Younger1608–1662 · Scientists0 decades
  97. 97Jacobus SinapiusJacobus Sinapius1575–1622 · Scientistsnot measured—
  98. 98Geminiano MontanariGeminiano Montanari1633–1687 · Scientists22 decades
  99. 99John Tradescant the elderJohn Tradescant the elder1570–1638 · Scientists0 decades
  100. 100Cassiano dal PozzoCassiano dal Pozzo1588–1657 · Scientists22 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.