Claim profile
1840–1849

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 Hebrew books during the 1840s — whenever they lived.

In books written inEnglish11,257German2,512French2,481Italian1,520Spanish816Russian127Hebrew61
  1. 1HabakkukHabakkuk626 BC–600 BC · 1st millennium BC · Religious Figures15
  2. 2HaggaiHaggaiborn 550 BC · 1st millennium BC · Religious Figures13
  3. 3SBSimeon ben Gamliel IIborn 100 · 2nd century12
  4. 4NTNathan the Babylonianborn 101 · 2nd century11
  5. 5Rav AshiRav Ashi352–427 · 4th century8.3
  6. 6Johanan ben ZakaiJohanan ben Zakai50 BC–70 · 1st millennium BC5.0
  7. 7JCJoseph Caspi1280–1345 · 14th century · 🇫🇷 France · Academics3.2
  8. 8Hillel the ElderHillel the Elder50 BC–100 · 1st millennium BC3.0
  9. 9Saadia GaonSaadia Gaon882–942 · 10th century · Academics2.8
  10. 10SBSimeon ben Zomadied 200 · 2nd century2.5
  11. 11Hai GaonHai Gaon939–1038 · 10th century · Writers2.0
  12. 12HBHanina ben Dosa40–75 · 1st century1.6
  13. 13Abraham bar HiyyaAbraham bar Hiyya1070–1136 · 12th century · Academics1.4
  14. 14SISamuel ibn Naghrillah993–1055 · 11th century · Writers1.3
  15. 15Menasseh Ben IsraelMenasseh Ben Israel1604–1657 · 17th century · Academics1.1
  16. 16EBEliezer ben Hurcanus100–200 · 2nd century0.94
  17. 17Isaac AbrabanelIsaac Abrabanel1437–1508 · 15th century · Academics0.87
  18. 18JKJoseph Kimhi1105–1170 · 12th century · 🇫🇷 France · Writers0.85
  19. 19JBJudah ben Samuel of Regensburg1150–1217 · 12th century · Academics0.66
  20. 20EBEleazar ben Arach100–200 · 2nd century0.63
  21. 21Hayyim ben Joseph VitalHayyim ben Joseph Vital1542–1620 · 16th century · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Musicians0.57
  22. 22Moshe AlshichMoshe Alshich1508–1593 · 16th century · 🇹🇷 Turkey0.53
  23. 23IBIsaac ben Moses Arama1420–1494 · 15th century0.48
  24. 24Joseph AlboJoseph Albo1380–1444 · 15th century · Academics0.46
  25. 25Chaim Joseph David AzulaiChaim Joseph David Azulai1724–1806 · 18th century · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Historical Figures0.46
  26. 26Eleazar ben KillirEleazar ben Killir600–700 · 7th century · Writers0.46
  27. 27Hasdai CrescasHasdai Crescas1340–1410 · 14th century · Academics0.46
  28. 28YYanaiborn 600 · 7th century · Writers0.44
  29. 29JBJedaiah ben Abraham Bedersi1270–1340 · 14th century · 🇫🇷 France · Academics0.41
  30. 30Amram GaonAmram Gaon810–875 · 9th century0.37
  31. 31Azariah dei RossiAzariah dei Rossi1513–1578 · 16th century · Writers0.37
  32. 32MKMoses Kimhi1127–1190 · 12th century · 🇫🇷 France0.36
  33. 33MBMenahem ben Aaron ibn Zerah1310–1385 · 14th century · Writers0.28
  34. 34Rabbeinu TamRabbeinu Tam1100–1171 · 12th century · 🇫🇷 France · Writers0.25
  35. 35Sabbatai ZeviSabbatai Zevi1626–1676 · 17th century · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Religious Figures0.24
  36. 36Moses ben JoshuaMoses ben Joshua1300–1362 · 14th century · Academics0.23
  37. 37ZHZerachiah haLevi of Girona1130–1186 · 12th century · 🇫🇷 France · Writers0.22
  38. 38Dunash ben LabratDunash ben Labrat920–990 · 10th century · Writers0.19
  39. 39Moses SoferMoses Sofer1762–1839 · 18th century0.18
  40. 40PDProfiat Duran1350–1415 · 14th century · Musicians0.18
  41. 41OBObadiah ben Jacob Sforno1470–1549 · 16th century · Doctors0.17
  42. 42Shabbethai DonnoloShabbethai Donnoloborn 913 · 10th century · Scientists0.16
  43. 43Herod ArchelausHerod Archelaus23 BC–18 · 1st century · Models0.15
  44. 44IAIsaac Albalag1300–1300 · 14th century · Academics0.12
  45. 45ADAbraham de Balmes1440–1523 · 15th century · Doctors0.11
  46. 46Isaac the BlindIsaac the Blind1160–1235 · 12th century · 🇫🇷 France · Writers0.11
  47. 47MYMordecai Yoffe1530–1612 · 16th century0.11
  48. 48JosephusJosephus37–100 · 1st century · Writers0.10
  49. 49Menaḥem ben Shelomoh MeʾiriMenaḥem ben Shelomoh Meʾiri1249–1306 · 13th century · 🇫🇷 France · Musicians0.08
  50. 50Shlomo Halevi AlkabetzShlomo Halevi Alkabetz1505–1576 · 16th century · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writers0.08
  51. 51Shimon bar YochaiShimon bar Yochai100–160 · 2nd century0.07
  52. 52Baal Shem TovBaal Shem Tov1698–1760 · 18th century0.05
  53. 53Chaim ibn AttarChaim ibn Attar1696–1743 · 18th century0.04
  54. 54Yehuda AlhariziYehuda Alharizi1165–1225 · 13th century · Writers0.04
  55. 55Jacob EmdenJacob Emden1697–1776 · 18th century · 🇩🇪 Germany0.03
  56. 56Solomon MolchoSolomon Molcho1500–1532 · 16th century · Academics0.03
  57. 57Jacob ben AsherJacob ben Asher1269–1343 · 14th century · Writers0.02
  58. 58Abraham ben Mordecai FarissolAbraham ben Mordecai Farissol1451–1525 · 15th century · Musicians0.02
  59. 59Nathan of GazaNathan of Gaza1644–1680 · 17th century · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writers0.02
  60. 60Yonah GerondiYonah Gerondi1210–1263 · 13th century · Academics0.02
  61. 61Judas MaccabeusJudas Maccabeus500 BC–160 BC · 1st millennium BC · Religious Figures0.02

Lived then

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

  1. 1Abraham LincolnAbraham Lincoln1809–1865 · 🇺🇸 United States · Politicians22 decades
  2. 2Charles DarwinCharles Darwin1809–1882 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Scientists21 decades
  3. 3Richard WagnerRichard Wagner1813–1883 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Musicians19 decades
  4. 4Frédéric ChopinFrédéric Chopin1810–1849 · 🇫🇷 France · Musicians16 decades
  5. 5Nikolai GogolNikolai Gogol1809–1852 · Writers19 decades
  6. 6Edgar Allan PoeEdgar Allan Poe1809–1849 · 🇺🇸 United States · Writers17 decades
  7. 7Charles DickensCharles Dickens1812–1870 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Writers20 decades
  8. 8Giuseppe VerdiGiuseppe Verdi1813–1901 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musicians18 decades
  9. 9Napoleon IIINapoleon III1808–1873 · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians21 decades
  10. 10Mikhail LermontovMikhail Lermontov1814–1841 · Writers15 decades
  11. 11Hans Christian AndersenHans Christian Andersen1805–1875 · Writers18 decades
  12. 12Pope Leo XIIIPope Leo XIII1810–1903 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Religious Figures15 decades
  13. 13Giuseppe GaribaldiGiuseppe Garibaldi1807–1882 · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians11 decades
  14. 14Taras ShevchenkoTaras Shevchenko1814–1861 · Writers13 decades
  15. 15Franz LisztFranz Liszt1811–1886 · 🇦🇹 Austria · Musicians19 decades
  16. 16Felix MendelssohnFelix Mendelssohn1809–1847 · Musicians18 decades
  17. 17Emily BrontëEmily Brontë1818–1848 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Writers14 decades
  18. 18Robert SchumannRobert Schumann1810–1856 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Musicians19 decades
  19. 19Søren KierkegaardSøren Kierkegaard1813–1855 · Academics3 decades
  20. 20Alfred de MussetAlfred de Musset1810–1857 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers19 decades
  21. 21Benito JuárezBenito Juárez1806–1872 · 🇲🇽 Mexico · Politicians16 decades
  22. 22Mikhail BakuninMikhail Bakunin1814–1876 · Activists16 decades
  23. 23Alexis de TocquevilleAlexis de Tocqueville1805–1859 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers19 decades
  24. 24Joseph SmithJoseph Smith1805–1844 · 🇺🇸 United States · Politicians22 decades
  25. 25Giuseppe MazziniGiuseppe Mazzini1805–1872 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Activists20 decades
  26. 26Robert E. LeeRobert E. Lee1807–1870 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists16 decades
  27. 27Camillo Benso, Count of CavourCamillo Benso, Count of Cavour1810–1861 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Politicians10 decades
  28. 28John Stuart MillJohn Stuart Mill1806–1873 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Academics18 decades
  29. 29Pierre-Joseph ProudhonPierre-Joseph Proudhon1809–1865 · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians8 decades
  30. 30P. T. BarnumP. T. Barnum1810–1891 · 🇺🇸 United States · Politicians17 decades
  31. 31Andrew JohnsonAndrew Johnson1808–1875 · 🇺🇸 United States · Politicians22 decades
  32. 32Théophile GautierThéophile Gautier1811–1872 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers19 decades
  33. 33Alexander HerzenAlexander Herzen1812–1870 · 🇨🇭 Switzerland · Writers16 decades
  34. 34Ivan GoncharovIvan Goncharov1812–1891 · Writers17 decades
  35. 35David LivingstoneDavid Livingstone1813–1873 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Historical Figures17 decades
  36. 36Patrice de MacMahonPatrice de MacMahon1808–1893 · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians0 decades
  37. 37Jefferson DavisJefferson Davis1808–1889 · 🇺🇸 United States · Politicians20 decades
  38. 38Vissarion BelinskyVissarion Belinsky1811–1848 · Academics15 decades
  39. 39Louis BrailleLouis Braille1809–1852 · 🇫🇷 France · Scientists14 decades
  40. 40Anne BrontëAnne Brontë1820–1849 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Writers1 decades
  41. 41Max StirnerMax Stirner1806–1856 · Academics18 decades
  42. 42Emir AbdelkaderEmir Abdelkader1808–1883 · Politicians0 decades
  43. 43Gérard de NervalGérard de Nerval1808–1855 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers18 decades
  44. 44Harriet Beecher StoweHarriet Beecher Stowe1811–1896 · 🇺🇸 United States · Writers17 decades
  45. 45Georges-Eugène HaussmannGeorges-Eugène Haussmann1809–1891 · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians0 decades
  46. 46Eugène Viollet-le-DucEugène Viollet-le-Duc1814–1879 · 🇫🇷 France · Architectsnot measured—
  47. 47Claude BernardClaude Bernard1813–1878 · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians21 decades
  48. 48Domingo Faustino SarmientoDomingo Faustino Sarmiento1811–1888 · 🇦🇷 Argentina · Politicians18 decades
  49. 49William Makepeace ThackerayWilliam Makepeace Thackeray1811–1863 · 🇮🇳 India · Writers17 decades
  50. 50Jean-François MilletJean-François Millet1814–1875 · 🇫🇷 France · Artists13 decades
  51. 51Nikolai PirogovNikolai Pirogov1810–1881 · Scientists15 decades
  52. 52William Ewart GladstoneWilliam Ewart Gladstone1809–1898 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Politicians18 decades
  53. 53Alfred TennysonAlfred Tennyson1809–1892 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Writers19 decades
  54. 54Henry Wadsworth LongfellowHenry Wadsworth Longfellow1807–1882 · 🇺🇸 United States · Writers18 decades
  55. 55Adolphe SaxAdolphe Sax1814–1894 · Musicians13 decades
  56. 56Honoré DaumierHonoré Daumier1808–1879 · 🇫🇷 France · Artists13 decades
  57. 57Ferdinand de LessepsFerdinand de Lesseps1805–1894 · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians18 decades
  58. 58Jules GrévyJules Grévy1807–1891 · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians15 decades
  59. 59Elizabeth Barrett BrowningElizabeth Barrett Browning1806–1861 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Writers17 decades
  60. 60Samuel ColtSamuel Colt1814–1862 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists18 decades
  61. 61Robert BrowningRobert Browning1812–1889 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Writers19 decades
  62. 62Peter Gustav Lejeune DirichletPeter Gustav Lejeune Dirichlet1805–1859 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Academics0 decades
  63. 63Maximilian II of BavariaMaximilian II of Bavaria1811–1864 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Politicians0 decades
  64. 64Isambard Kingdom BrunelIsambard Kingdom Brunel1806–1859 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Scientists2 decades
  65. 65Louis Auguste BlanquiLouis Auguste Blanqui1805–1881 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics19 decades
  66. 66William Rowan HamiltonWilliam Rowan Hamilton1805–1865 · Academics16 decades
  67. 67Sándor PetőfiSándor Petőfi1823–1849 · Writers0 decades
  68. 68Maria Christina of the Two SiciliesMaria Christina of the Two Sicilies1806–1878 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  69. 69Antonio MeucciAntonio Meucci1808–1889 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists14 decades
  70. 70Elizabeth GaskellElizabeth Gaskell1810–1865 · Writers7 decades
  71. 71Hong XiuquanHong Xiuquan1814–1864 · 🇨🇳 China · Politicians10 decades
  72. 72Fanny MendelssohnFanny Mendelssohn1805–1847 · Musicians10 decades
  73. 73Isaac SingerIsaac Singer1811–1875 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists0 decades
  74. 74Frederick VII of DenmarkFrederick VII of Denmark1808–1863 · Historical Figures0 decades
  75. 75Princess Sophie of BavariaPrincess Sophie of Bavaria1805–1872 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Politiciansnot measured—
  76. 76Ferdinand II of the Two SiciliesFerdinand II of the Two Sicilies1810–1859 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Politiciansnot measured—
  77. 77Éliphas LéviÉliphas Lévi1810–1875 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers6 decades
  78. 78Louise of OrléansLouise of Orléans1812–1850 · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures21 decades
  79. 79John SnowJohn Snow1813–1858 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Doctors21 decades
  80. 80Jenny von WestphalenJenny von Westphalen1814–1881 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Politicians9 decades
  81. 81Emperor NortonEmperor Norton1811–1880 · 🇺🇸 United States · Business Professionals0 decades
  82. 82Margaret FullerMargaret Fuller1810–1850 · 🇺🇸 United States · Writers18 decades
  83. 83Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr.Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr.1809–1894 · 🇺🇸 United States · Writers19 decades
  84. 84William Lloyd GarrisonWilliam Lloyd Garrison1805–1879 · 🇺🇸 United States · Journalists19 decades
  85. 85Josephine of LeuchtenbergJosephine of Leuchtenberg1807–1876 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Historical Figures0 decades
  86. 86Louis AgassizLouis Agassiz1807–1873 · 🇨🇭 Switzerland · Scientists16 decades
  87. 87Robert BunsenRobert Bunsen1811–1899 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientists9 decades
  88. 88Stephen A. DouglasStephen A. Douglas1813–1861 · 🇺🇸 United States · Politicians18 decades
  89. 89Bruno BauerBruno Bauer1809–1882 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Academics19 decades
  90. 90Horace GreeleyHorace Greeley1811–1872 · 🇺🇸 United States · Politicians18 decades
  91. 91Albert PikeAlbert Pike1809–1891 · 🇺🇸 United States · Writers18 decades
  92. 92Edward LearEdward Lear1812–1888 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Artists15 decades
  93. 93Kit CarsonKit Carson1809–1868 · 🇺🇸 United States · Historical Figures18 decades
  94. 94Sheridan Le FanuSheridan Le Fanu1814–1873 · Writers8 decades
  95. 95Henry WilsonHenry Wilson1812–1875 · 🇺🇸 United States · Politicians21 decades
  96. 96Princess Ludovika of BavariaPrincess Ludovika of Bavaria1808–1892 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  97. 97Mohammad Shah QajarMohammad Shah Qajar1808–1848 · Politicians0 decades
  98. 98Henri NestléHenri Nestlé1814–1890 · 🇨🇭 Switzerland · Founders0 decades
  99. 99Bettino RicasoliBettino Ricasoli1809–1880 · Politicians22 decades
  100. 100Moses HessMoses Hess1812–1875 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Academics10 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.