215,950 profiles ranked

← Fame through time1840-1849

The 1840s

Whose names filled the books of the 1840s - anyone at all, however long dead - counted as mentions per million words printed, so a period that simply published more does not inflate anyone.

Talked about then

Whose names appeared most in German books during the 1840s, whenever they lived.

  1. 1Maria Theresa1717-1780 · 18th century · Austria · Historical Figures3.3
  2. 2Paracelsus1493-1541 · 16th century · Switzerland · Doctors2.1
  3. 3Jean Paul1763-1825 · 18th century · Germany · Writers2.0
  4. 4Gustav Adolph, Duke of Mecklenburg-Güstrow1633-1695 · 17th century · Germany · Writers1.6
  5. 5Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor1741-1790 · 18th century · Austria · Historical Figures1.5
  6. 6Louis Philip, Count Palatine of Simmern-Kaiserslautern1602-1655 · 17th century · Germany1.4
  7. 7Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor1316-1378 · 14th century · Historical Figures1.4
  8. 8Hans Sachs1494-1576 · 16th century · Germany · Writers1.1
  9. 9Novalis1772-1801 · 19th century · Germany · Writers1.1
  10. 10William IV, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel1532-1592 · 16th century · Germany · Scientists0.95
  11. 11Martin Luther1483-1546 · 16th century · Germany · Religious Figures0.93
  12. 12Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor1685-1740 · 18th century · Austria · Historical Figures0.90
  13. 13George Frederick of Waldeck-Eisenberg1620-1692 · 17th century · Models0.85
  14. 14Bruno Bauer1809-1882 · 19th century · Germany · Academics0.69
  15. 15Henry VI, Holy Roman Emperor1165-1197 · 12th century · Germany · Historical Figures0.68
  16. 16Charles XII of Sweden1682-1718 · 18th century · Sweden · Historical Figures0.67
  17. 17Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor1768-1835 · 19th century0.66
  18. 18Albrecht Dürer1471-1528 · 16th century · Germany · Artists0.65
  19. 19Ernest Augustus, Elector of Brunswick-Lüneburg1629-1698 · 17th century · Germany · Historical Figures0.63
  20. 20Catherine the Great1729-1796 · 18th century · Russia · Historical Figures0.62
  21. 21Frederick William IV of Prussia1795-1861 · 19th century · Politicians0.61
  22. 22Friedrich Schlegel1772-1829 · 19th century · Germany · Writers0.59
  23. 23Peter I of Oldenburg1755-1829 · 18th century · Politicians0.57
  24. 24Władysław of Głogów1420-1460 · 15th century · Germany0.56
  25. 25Ulrich von Hutten1488-1523 · 16th century · Germany · Academics0.54
  26. 26Frederick Henry, Margrave of Brandenburg-Schwedt1709-1788 · 18th century · Germany · Models0.53
  27. 27Philip V, Count of Hanau-Lichtenberg1541-1599 · 16th century · Germany0.52
  28. 28Charles Augustus, Grand Duke of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach1757-1828 · 18th century · Politicians0.51
  29. 29Charles VII, Holy Roman Emperor1697-1745 · 18th century · Historical Figures0.48
  30. 30Conradin1252-1268 · 13th century · Germany · Musicians0.47
  31. 31Philip IV, Count of Hanau-Lichtenberg1514-1590 · 16th century · Germany0.44
  32. 32Jacob Grimm1785-1863 · 19th century · Germany · Academics0.42
  33. 33Francis Anthony, Count of Hohenzollern-Haigerloch1657-1702 · 17th century · Germany0.39
  34. 34Moses Mendelssohn1729-1786 · 18th century · Germany · Academics0.38
  35. 35Frederick of Saxony1474-1510 · 16th century · Germany0.37
  36. 36Christian IV, Count Palatine of Zweibrücken1722-1775 · 18th century · Germany0.36
  37. 37Johann von Werth1591-1652 · 17th century · Germany0.36
  38. 38Wilhelm von Humboldt1767-1835 · 19th century · Germany · Academics0.36
  39. 39Joseph I, Holy Roman Emperor1678-1711 · 18th century · Austria · Historical Figures0.33
  40. 40Andreas Hofer1767-1810 · 19th century · Italy0.33
  41. 41Augustus the Younger, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg1579-1666 · 17th century · Germany · Writers0.31
  42. 42Franz von Sickingen1481-1523 · 16th century · Historical Figures0.31
  43. 43Heinrich Frauenlob1255-1318 · 13th century · Writers0.31
  44. 44John Louis of Nassau-Hadamar1590-1653 · 17th century · Germany0.31
  45. 45Karl, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst1652-1718 · 17th century · Historical Figures0.30
  46. 46Christian William I, Prince of Schwarzburg-Sondershausen1647-1721 · 17th century · Germany0.29
  47. 47Frederick Charles, Duke of Württemberg-Winnental1652-1698 · 17th century · Politicians0.28
  48. 48Carl Ritter1779-1859 · 19th century · Germany · Historical Figures0.28
  49. 49Hugo von Mohl1805-1872 · 19th century · Scientists0.27
  50. 50Walther von der Vogelweide1170-1230 · 13th century · Austria · Musicians0.27
  51. 51Johannes von Müller1752-1809 · 18th century · Switzerland · Writers0.26
  52. 52John of Bohemia1296-1346 · 14th century · Historical Figures0.26
  53. 53Heinrich Rose1795-1864 · 19th century · Scientists0.25
  54. 54Frederick VI, Margrave of Baden-Durlach1617-1677 · 17th century · Germany0.23
  55. 55Jakob Böhme1575-1624 · 17th century · Germany · Academics0.23
  56. 56Christian Ernst, Margrave of Brandenburg-Bayreuth1644-1712 · 17th century · Germany · Politicians0.23
  57. 57Augustus III of Poland1696-1763 · 18th century · Germany · Historical Figures0.22
  58. 58Georg Forster1754-1794 · 18th century · Germany · Writers0.21
  59. 59Philip Melanchthon1497-1560 · 16th century · Germany · Scientists0.20
  60. 60Otto Henry, Count Palatine of Sulzbach1556-1604 · 16th century · Germany0.20
  61. 61Duke Heinrich Julius I, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg1564-1613 · 16th century · Writers0.20
  62. 62Frederick Ulrich, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg1591-1634 · 17th century · Germany · Historical Figures0.20
  63. 63Joachim Frederick, Elector of Brandenburg1546-1608 · 16th century · Germany · Religious Figures0.20
  64. 64John Charles, Count Palatine of Gelnhausen1638-1704 · 17th century · Germany0.19
  65. 65Joachim II Hector, Elector of Brandenburg1505-1571 · 16th century · Historical Figures0.19
  66. 66Jacob, Margrave of Baden-Baden1407-1453 · 15th century · Germany · Historical Figures0.18
  67. 67Wilhelm Heinrich, Duke of Saxe-Eisenach1691-1741 · 18th century0.18
  68. 68Friedrich Hoffmann1660-1742 · 17th century · Germany · Doctors0.18
  69. 69Clemens Brentano1778-1842 · 19th century · Germany · Writers0.17
  70. 70William V, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel1602-1637 · 17th century · Germany · Politicians0.17
  71. 71Joachim Ernst, Margrave of Brandenburg-Ansbach1583-1625 · 17th century · Germany · Models0.17
  72. 72Nicholas I of Werle1210-1277 · 13th century · Germany0.17
  73. 73Gustav Schwab1792-1850 · 19th century · Germany · Writers0.16
  74. 74Franz Schubert1797-1828 · 19th century · Austria · Musicians0.16
  75. 75John Sigismund, Elector of Brandenburg1572-1619 · 17th century · Germany · Historical Figures0.16
  76. 76Arnold Ruge1802-1880 · 19th century · Academics0.16
  77. 77John VIII, Count of Nassau-Siegen1583-1638 · 17th century · Germany0.15
  78. 78Louis William, Margrave of Baden-Baden1655-1707 · 17th century0.15
  79. 79Ludwig Feuerbach1804-1872 · 19th century · Germany · Academics0.15
  80. 80Thomas Müntzer1489-1525 · 16th century · Germany · Religious Figures0.15
  81. 81Wilhelm Müller1794-1827 · 19th century · Writers0.14
  82. 82Joachim I Nestor, Elector of Brandenburg1484-1535 · 16th century · Germany · Models0.14
  83. 83Konrad von Würzburg1225-1287 · 13th century · Writers0.14
  84. 84William Augustus, Duke of Brunswick-Harburg1564-1642 · 16th century · Germany · Historical Figures0.14
  85. 85Joseph Haydn1732-1809 · 18th century · Austria · Musicians0.14
  86. 86Friedrich Wöhler1800-1882 · 19th century · Germany · Scientists0.13
  87. 87Paul Gerhardt1607-1676 · 17th century · Germany · Academics0.13
  88. 88Wilhelm Grimm1786-1859 · 19th century · Germany · Writers0.13
  89. 89Heinrich Heine1797-1856 · 19th century · France · Writers0.13
  90. 90Henry of Saxony1422-1435 · 15th century · Germany · Models0.13
  91. 91Prince Albert of Prussia1809-1872 · 19th century · Politicians0.13
  92. 92Nicholas V of Werleborn 1400 · 15th century · Germany0.13
  93. 93Immanuel Kant1724-1804 · 18th century · Academics0.12
  94. 94August Wilhelm Schlegel1767-1845 · 19th century · Germany · Writers0.12
  95. 95Augustus Louis, Prince of Anhalt-Köthen1697-1755 · 18th century · Germany · Historical Figures0.12
  96. 96Beatus Rhenanus1485-1547 · 16th century · Academics0.12
  97. 97Count Anton Alexander von Auersperg1806-1876 · 19th century · Politicians0.12
  98. 98Adolf Frederick, King of Sweden1710-1771 · 18th century · Sweden · Historical Figures0.12
  99. 99Wolfgang William, Count Palatine of Neuburg1578-1653 · 17th century · Germany0.12
  100. 100Philip of Swabia1177-1208 · 13th century · Germany · Religious Figures0.12

Lived then

The most notable people whose working lives fell in the 1840s, ranked where coverage and readership agree.

  1. 1Abraham Lincoln1809-1865 · United States · Politicians22 decades
  2. 2Edgar Allan Poe1809-1849 · United States · Writers17 decades
  3. 3Charles Dickens1812-1870 · United Kingdom · Writers20 decades
  4. 4Charles Darwin1809-1882 · United Kingdom · Scientists21 decades
  5. 5Frédéric Chopin1810-1849 · France · Musicians16 decades
  6. 6Richard Wagner1813-1883 · Germany · Musicians19 decades
  7. 7Hans Christian Andersen1805-1875 · Denmark · Writers18 decades
  8. 8Andrew Johnson1808-1875 · United States · Politicians22 decades
  9. 9Nikolai Gogol1809-1852 · Russia · Writers19 decades
  10. 10Napoleon III1808-1873 · France · Politicians21 decades
  11. 11Pope Leo XIII1810-1903 · Italy · Religious Figures15 decades
  12. 12Søren Kierkegaard1813-1855 · Denmark · Academics3 decades
  13. 13Emily Brontë1818-1848 · United Kingdom · Writers14 decades
  14. 14Giuseppe Garibaldi1807-1882 · France11 decades
  15. 15Joseph Smith1805-1844 · United States · Politicians22 decades
  16. 16Mikhail Lermontov1814-1841 · Russia · Writers15 decades
  17. 17Robert E. Lee1807-1870 · United States16 decades
  18. 18Giuseppe Verdi1813-1901 · Italy · Musicians18 decades
  19. 19Franz Liszt1811-1886 · Austria · Musicians19 decades
  20. 20John Stuart Mill1806-1873 · United Kingdom · Academics18 decades
  21. 21Felix Mendelssohn1809-1847 · Musicians18 decades
  22. 22P. T. Barnum1810-1891 · United States · Politicians17 decades
  23. 23Robert Schumann1810-1856 · Germany · Musicians19 decades
  24. 24Jefferson Davis1808-1889 · United States · Politicians20 decades
  25. 25Taras Shevchenko1814-1861 · Russia · Writers13 decades
Show 75 more

How to read these rankings

  • Attention, not reputation. A place on these lists reflects the attention a person still draws in the public record. It is not a judgement on the life.
  • Fame in print. The curves show how often a name appeared in the books of each decade from 1800 to 2019, drawn from the Google Books Ngram corpus.
  • Gaps are left as gaps. Where the record is too thin to be fair, we would rather show nothing than guess.