Claim profile
1850–1859

The 1850s

Whose names filled the books of the 1850s — 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 French books during the 1850s — whenever they lived.

In books written inEnglish12,094German2,781French2,698Italian1,574Spanish890Russian146Hebrew78
  1. 1Louis XIV of FranceLouis XIV of France1638–1715 · 17th century · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures37
  2. 2VoltaireVoltaire1694–1778 · 18th century · 🇫🇷 France · Writers32
  3. 3Louis XVI of FranceLouis XVI of France1754–1793 · 18th century · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures14
  4. 4MolièreMolière1622–1673 · 17th century · 🇫🇷 France · Writers11
  5. 5François FénelonFrançois Fénelon1651–1715 · 17th century · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figures11
  6. 6Louis XV of FranceLouis XV of France1710–1774 · 18th century · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures9.7
  7. 7MontesquieuMontesquieu1689–1755 · 18th century · 🇫🇷 France · Academics7.5
  8. 8HIHenry II, Count of Euborn 1160 · 12th century · 🇫🇷 France6.4
  9. 9Henry II of FranceHenry II of France1519–1559 · 16th century · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians6.4
  10. 10Louis XVIII of FranceLouis XVIII of France1755–1824 · 18th century · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians6.2
  11. 11Louis XII of FranceLouis XII of France1462–1515 · 15th century · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures5.1
  12. 12Charles X of FranceCharles X of France1757–1836 · 18th century · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians4.7
  13. 13Francis de SalesFrancis de Sales1567–1622 · 17th century · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figures3.0
  14. 14Vincent de PaulVincent de Paul1581–1660 · 17th century · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figures2.8
  15. 15Louis BlancLouis Blanc1811–1882 · 19th century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Politicians2.8
  16. 16Victor HugoVictor Hugo1802–1885 · 19th century · 🇫🇷 France · Writers2.5
  17. 17Philip V of SpainPhilip V of Spain1683–1746 · 18th century · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians2.4
  18. 18Marie AntoinetteMarie Antoinette1755–1793 · 18th century · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures2.3
  19. 19Marie de' MediciMarie de' Medici1575–1642 · 17th century · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians2.1
  20. 20Joan of ArcJoan of Arc1412–1431 · 15th century · 🇫🇷 France2.1
  21. 21Francis II of FranceFrancis II of France1544–1560 · 16th century · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians1.9
  22. 22Pierre de Bourdeille, seigneur de BrantômePierre de Bourdeille, seigneur de Brantôme1540–1614 · 16th century · 🇫🇷 France · Writers1.8
  23. 23Camille DesmoulinsCamille Desmoulins1760–1794 · 18th century · 🇫🇷 France · Journalists1.5
  24. 24Pope Julius IIPope Julius II1443–1513 · 15th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Religious Figures1.5
  25. 25Benjamin ConstantBenjamin Constant1767–1830 · 19th century · 🇨🇭 Switzerland · Politicians1.4
  26. 26Napoleon IIINapoleon III1808–1873 · 19th century · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians1.3
  27. 27Odilon BarrotOdilon Barrot1791–1873 · 19th century · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians1.3
  28. 28Charles of LorraineCharles of Lorraine1567–1607 · 17th century · 🇫🇷 France1.3
  29. 29Charles de Lorraine de VaudémontCharles de Lorraine de Vaudémont1561–1587 · 16th century · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figures1.3
  30. 30Pope John XXIIPope John XXII1244–1334 · 13th century · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figures1.2
  31. 31Pierre LerouxPierre Leroux1797–1871 · 19th century · 🇫🇷 France · Academics1.2
  32. 32Louis BonaparteLouis Bonaparte1778–1846 · 19th century · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians1.1
  33. 33Pope Clement VPope Clement V1264–1314 · 13th century · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figures1.1
  34. 34Charles the BoldCharles the Bold1433–1477 · 15th century · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians1.0
  35. 35Augustin ThierryAugustin Thierry1795–1856 · 19th century · 🇫🇷 France · Writers0.98
  36. 36Jean-Jacques RousseauJean-Jacques Rousseau1712–1778 · 18th century · 🇨🇭 Switzerland · Academics0.97
  37. 37Alexandre Dumas filsAlexandre Dumas fils1824–1895 · 19th century · 🇫🇷 France · Writers0.94
  38. 38Alexandre DumasAlexandre Dumas1802–1870 · 19th century · 🇫🇷 France · Writers0.94
  39. 39Françoise d'Aubigné, Marquise de MaintenonFrançoise d'Aubigné, Marquise de Maintenon1635–1719 · 17th century · 🇫🇷 France · Academics0.93
  40. 40Firmin DidotFirmin Didot1764–1836 · 18th century · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians0.92
  41. 41Napoléon, Prince ImperialNapoléon, Prince Imperial1856–1879 · 19th century · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians0.84
  42. 42André ChénierAndré Chénier1762–1794 · 18th century · 🇫🇷 France · Writers0.77
  43. 43Anne of BrittanyAnne of Brittany1477–1514 · 16th century · 🇫🇷 France0.77
  44. 44Pierre de MarivauxPierre de Marivaux1688–1763 · 18th century · 🇫🇷 France · Writers0.73
  45. 45Margaret of ValoisMargaret of Valois1553–1615 · 16th century · 🇫🇷 France · Writers0.73
  46. 46Margaret of Austria, Duchess of SavoyMargaret of Austria, Duchess of Savoy1480–1530 · 16th century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Artists0.71
  47. 47George SandGeorge Sand1804–1876 · 19th century · 🇫🇷 France · Writers0.70
  48. 48Vincent of BeauvaisVincent of Beauvais1190–1264 · 13th century · Educators0.69
  49. 49Joseph de MaistreJoseph de Maistre1753–1821 · 18th century · 🇫🇷 France · Academics0.69
  50. 50Louis XVII of FranceLouis XVII of France1785–1795 · 18th century · 🇫🇷 France0.69
  51. 51Alfred de MussetAlfred de Musset1810–1857 · 19th century · 🇫🇷 France · Writers0.67
  52. 52Jean GoujonJean Goujon1510–1567 · 16th century · 🇫🇷 France · Architects0.67
  53. 53Louis, Count of SoissonsLouis, Count of Soissons1604–1641 · 17th century · 🇫🇷 France0.65
  54. 54Louis Jean Marie de Bourbon, Duke of PenthièvreLouis Jean Marie de Bourbon, Duke of Penthièvre1725–1793 · 18th century · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians0.65
  55. 55Louis de Bourbon, Bishop of LiègeLouis de Bourbon, Bishop of Liège1438–1482 · 15th century · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians0.65
  56. 56Louis de Bourbon, Count of ClermontLouis de Bourbon, Count of Clermont1709–1771 · 18th century · 🇫🇷 France0.65
  57. 57Louis, Count of VermandoisLouis, Count of Vermandois1667–1683 · 17th century0.65
  58. 58Maine de BiranMaine de Biran1766–1824 · 19th century · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians0.63
  59. 59Mary of BurgundyMary of Burgundy1457–1482 · 15th century · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians0.61
  60. 60Joseph BonaparteJoseph Bonaparte1768–1844 · 19th century · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians0.60
  61. 61Charles NodierCharles Nodier1780–1844 · 19th century · 🇫🇷 France · Writers0.59
  62. 62Casimir DelavigneCasimir Delavigne1793–1843 · 19th century · 🇫🇷 France · Writers0.59
  63. 63Jules FavreJules Favre1809–1880 · 19th century · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians0.58
  64. 64La GrangeLa Grange1635–1692 · 17th century · 🇫🇷 France · Actors0.56
  65. 65Robert EstienneRobert Estienne1503–1559 · 16th century · 🇫🇷 France0.55
  66. 66Diane de PoitiersDiane de Poitiers1499–1566 · 16th century · 🇫🇷 France0.55
  67. 67Charlotte CordayCharlotte Corday1768–1793 · 18th century · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures0.52
  68. 68Godfrey of BouillonGodfrey of Bouillon1060–1100 · 11th century · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures0.51
  69. 69Eugène SueEugène Sue1804–1857 · 19th century · 🇫🇷 France · Writers0.51
  70. 70Charles DupinCharles Dupin1784–1873 · 19th century · 🇫🇷 France · Academics0.51
  71. 71Pope Urban VPope Urban V1310–1370 · 14th century · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figures0.50
  72. 72Jeanne d'AlbretJeanne d'Albret1528–1572 · 16th century · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians0.49
  73. 73NostradamusNostradamus1503–1566 · 16th century · 🇫🇷 France · Academics0.48
  74. 74Horace VernetHorace Vernet1789–1863 · 19th century · 🇫🇷 France · Artists0.46
  75. 75Pope Clement IVPope Clement IV1190–1268 · 13th century · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figures0.45
  76. 76Jean BartJean Bart1650–1702 · 17th century0.44
  77. 77Lucien BonaparteLucien Bonaparte1775–1840 · 19th century · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians0.44
  78. 78Charles, Count of SoissonsCharles, Count of Soissons1566–1612 · 17th century · 🇫🇷 France0.43
  79. 79NapoleonNapoleon1769–1821 · 19th century · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures0.41
  80. 80Ambroise ParéAmbroise Paré1510–1590 · 16th century · 🇫🇷 France · Doctors0.41
  81. 81Pope Gregory XIPope Gregory XI1329–1378 · 14th century · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figures0.41
  82. 82Margaret of ParmaMargaret of Parma1522–1586 · 16th century · Historical Figures0.39
  83. 83Jules SimonJules Simon1814–1896 · 19th century · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians0.39
  84. 84Gustav III of SwedenGustav III of Sweden1746–1792 · 18th century · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Politicians0.39
  85. 85Blanche of CastileBlanche of Castile1188–1252 · 13th century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Historical Figures0.38
  86. 86Antoine Quentin Fouquier-TinvilleAntoine Quentin Fouquier-Tinville1746–1795 · 18th century · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians0.37
  87. 87Olivier de SerresOlivier de Serres1539–1619 · 16th century · Writers0.37
  88. 88Peter the HermitPeter the Hermit1050–1115 · 11th century · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figures0.37
  89. 89Edgar QuinetEdgar Quinet1803–1875 · 19th century · 🇫🇷 France · Writers0.36
  90. 90Paul DelarochePaul Delaroche1797–1856 · 19th century · 🇫🇷 France · Artists0.35
  91. 91Philippe I, Duke of OrléansPhilippe I, Duke of Orléans1640–1701 · 17th century · 🇫🇷 France0.35
  92. 92Philippe II, Duke of OrléansPhilippe II, Duke of Orléans1674–1723 · 18th century · 🇫🇷 France · Artists0.35
  93. 93Prince Philippe, Count of ParisPrince Philippe, Count of Paris1838–1894 · 19th century · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians0.35
  94. 94Mathieu MoléMathieu Molé1584–1656 · 17th century · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians0.35
  95. 95Louis-Mathieu MoléLouis-Mathieu Molé1781–1855 · 19th century · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians0.35
  96. 96Pierre CorneillePierre Corneille1606–1684 · 17th century · 🇫🇷 France · Writers0.35
  97. 97Antoine of NavarreAntoine of Navarre1518–1562 · 16th century · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians0.34
  98. 98Philip I, Count of FlandersPhilip I, Count of Flanders1142–1191 · 12th century · Politicians0.34
  99. 99Napoleon IINapoleon II1811–1832 · 19th century · 🇫🇷 France · Designers0.33
  100. 100StendhalStendhal1783–1842 · 19th century · 🇫🇷 France · Writers0.33

Lived then

The most notable people whose working lives fell in the 1850s, ranked where Wikipedia coverage and readership agree.

  1. 1Fyodor DostoevskyFyodor Dostoevsky1821–1881 · Writers17 decades
  2. 2Karl MarxKarl Marx1818–1883 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Academics17 decades
  3. 3Queen VictoriaQueen Victoria1819–1901 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  4. 4Otto von BismarckOtto von Bismarck1815–1898 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Politicians16 decades
  5. 5Louis PasteurLouis Pasteur1822–1895 · 🇫🇷 France · Scientists14 decades
  6. 6Charles BaudelaireCharles Baudelaire1821–1867 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers17 decades
  7. 7Ada LovelaceAda Lovelace1815–1852 · Academics3 decades
  8. 8Alexander II of RussiaAlexander II of Russia1818–1881 · Historical Figures17 decades
  9. 9Friedrich EngelsFriedrich Engels1820–1895 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Academics17 decades
  10. 10Gustave FlaubertGustave Flaubert1821–1880 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers17 decades
  11. 11Florence NightingaleFlorence Nightingale1820–1910 · Writers17 decades
  12. 12Ulysses S. GrantUlysses S. Grant1822–1885 · 🇺🇸 United States · Politicians16 decades
  13. 13Henry David ThoreauHenry David Thoreau1817–1862 · 🇺🇸 United States · Writers13 decades
  14. 14Harriet TubmanHarriet Tubman1821–1913 · 🇺🇸 United States · Writers9 decades
  15. 15Charlotte BrontëCharlotte Brontë1816–1855 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Writers17 decades
  16. 16Gregor MendelGregor Mendel1822–1884 · Scientists12 decades
  17. 17Nikolay NekrasovNikolay Nekrasov1821–1877 · Writers13 decades
  18. 18Victor Emmanuel II of ItalyVictor Emmanuel II of Italy1820–1878 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Historical Figures12 decades
  19. 19Alexandre Dumas filsAlexandre Dumas fils1824–1895 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers20 decades
  20. 20Walt WhitmanWalt Whitman1819–1892 · 🇺🇸 United States · Writers17 decades
  21. 21Jacques OffenbachJacques Offenbach1819–1880 · 🇫🇷 France · Musicians16 decades
  22. 22Gustave CourbetGustave Courbet1819–1877 · 🇫🇷 France · Artists16 decades
  23. 23Herman MelvilleHerman Melville1819–1891 · 🇺🇸 United States · Writers18 decades
  24. 24Ivan AivazovskyIvan Aivazovsky1817–1900 · Artists2 decades
  25. 25John BoscoJohn Bosco1815–1888 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Religious Figures16 decades
  26. 26Ivan TurgenevIvan Turgenev1818–1883 · Writers6 decades
  27. 27Theodor FontaneTheodor Fontane1819–1898 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writers17 decades
  28. 28Albert, Prince ConsortAlbert, Prince Consort1819–1861 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  29. 29Clara SchumannClara Schumann1819–1896 · Musicians18 decades
  30. 30Theodor MommsenTheodor Mommsen1817–1903 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Academics18 decades
  31. 31Bedřich SmetanaBedřich Smetana1824–1884 · Musicians0 decades
  32. 32George EliotGeorge Eliot1819–1880 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Writers19 decades
  33. 33Ignaz SemmelweisIgnaz Semmelweis1818–1865 · Doctors6 decades
  34. 34Anton BrucknerAnton Bruckner1824–1896 · 🇦🇹 Austria · Musicians14 decades
  35. 35Alexander OstrovskyAlexander Ostrovsky1823–1886 · Writers18 decades
  36. 36Ernest RenanErnest Renan1823–1892 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics17 decades
  37. 37Rutherford B. HayesRutherford B. Hayes1822–1893 · 🇺🇸 United States · Politicians16 decades
  38. 38John RuskinJohn Ruskin1819–1900 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Writers18 decades
  39. 39Frederick DouglassFrederick Douglass1818–1895 · 🇺🇸 United States · Writers18 decades
  40. 40Herbert SpencerHerbert Spencer1820–1903 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Academics17 decades
  41. 41Aleksey Konstantinovich TolstoyAleksey Konstantinovich Tolstoy1817–1875 · Writers16 decades
  42. 42Heinrich SchliemannHeinrich Schliemann1822–1890 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Academics15 decades
  43. 43Rudolf VirchowRudolf Virchow1821–1902 · Doctors16 decades
  44. 44William Thomson, 1st Baron KelvinWilliam Thomson, 1st Baron Kelvin1824–1907 · Scientistsnot measured—
  45. 45Hermann von HelmholtzHermann von Helmholtz1821–1894 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientists14 decades
  46. 46Charles GounodCharles Gounod1818–1893 · 🇫🇷 France · Musicians17 decades
  47. 47Alfred Russel WallaceAlfred Russel Wallace1823–1913 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Historical Figures15 decades
  48. 48Werner von SiemensWerner von Siemens1816–1892 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientists13 decades
  49. 49James Prescott JouleJames Prescott Joule1818–1889 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Scientists3 decades
  50. 50Bahá'u'lláhBahá'u'lláh1817–1892 · Writers7 decades
  51. 51NadarNadar1820–1910 · 🇫🇷 France · Artistsnot measured—
  52. 52Christian IX of DenmarkChristian IX of Denmark1818–1906 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures16 decades
  53. 53Theodor StormTheodor Storm1817–1888 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writers17 decades
  54. 54Abdulmejid IAbdulmejid I1823–1861 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Models0 decades
  55. 55Gustav KirchhoffGustav Kirchhoff1824–1887 · Scientists4 decades
  56. 56Otto of GreeceOtto of Greece1815–1867 · 🇦🇹 Austria · Historical Figures0 decades
  57. 57Susan B. AnthonySusan B. Anthony1820–1906 · 🇺🇸 United States · Writers16 decades
  58. 58William Tecumseh ShermanWilliam Tecumseh Sherman1820–1891 · 🇺🇸 United States · Writers14 decades
  59. 59Francis GaltonFrancis Galton1822–1911 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Academics17 decades
  60. 60Richard Francis BurtonRichard Francis Burton1821–1890 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Historical Figures2 decades
  61. 61Rosa BonheurRosa Bonheur1822–1899 · 🇫🇷 France · Artists18 decades
  62. 62Karl WeierstrassKarl Weierstrass1815–1897 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Academics8 decades
  63. 63Arthur de GobineauArthur de Gobineau1816–1882 · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians12 decades
  64. 64César FranckCésar Franck1822–1890 · Musicians15 decades
  65. 65Jenny LindJenny Lind1820–1887 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Musicians18 decades
  66. 66Carl ZeissCarl Zeiss1816–1888 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientists13 decades
  67. 67Stonewall JacksonStonewall Jackson1824–1863 · 🇺🇸 United States16 decades
  68. 68Jean-Léon GérômeJean-Léon Gérôme1824–1904 · 🇫🇷 France · Artists4 decades
  69. 69William III of the NetherlandsWilliam III of the Netherlands1817–1890 · Historical Figures0 decades
  70. 70Jacob BurckhardtJacob Burckhardt1818–1897 · 🇨🇭 Switzerland · Writers17 decades
  71. 71Bartolomé MitreBartolomé Mitre1821–1906 · 🇦🇷 Argentina · Politicians20 decades
  72. 72Li HongzhangLi Hongzhang1823–1901 · 🇨🇳 China · Politicians10 decades
  73. 73Henri, Count of ChambordHenri, Count of Chambord1820–1883 · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians0 decades
  74. 74Wilkie CollinsWilkie Collins1824–1889 · Writers17 decades
  75. 75Francesco CrispiFrancesco Crispi1818–1901 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Politicians18 decades
  76. 76John A. MacdonaldJohn A. Macdonald1815–1891 · 🇨🇦 Canada · Politicians16 decades
  77. 77Max MüllerMax Müller1823–1900 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Academics5 decades
  78. 78Mary Todd LincolnMary Todd Lincoln1818–1882 · 🇺🇸 United States10 decades
  79. 79Pafnuty ChebyshevPafnuty Chebyshev1821–1894 · Academics4 decades
  80. 80Lola MontezLola Montez1821–1861 · Actors18 decades
  81. 81Elizabeth BlackwellElizabeth Blackwell1821–1910 · 🇺🇸 United States · Doctors17 decades
  82. 82Jean-Henri FabreJean-Henri Fabre1823–1915 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers7 decades
  83. 83BábBáb1819–1850 · Writers12 decades
  84. 84Rani of JhansiRani of Jhansi1828–1858 · 🇮🇳 India · Activists8 decades
  85. 85Gyula AndrássyGyula Andrássy1823–1890 · Politicians0 decades
  86. 86Maria II of PortugalMaria II of Portugal1819–1853 · 🇧🇷 Brazil0 decades
  87. 87Anthony TrollopeAnthony Trollope1815–1882 · Writers17 decades
  88. 88Phineas GagePhineas Gage1823–1860 · 🇺🇸 United States2 decades
  89. 89Francisco de Asís, Duke of CádizFrancisco de Asís, Duke of Cádiz1822–1902 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Historical Figures5 decades
  90. 90Maria AlexandrovnaMaria Alexandrovna1824–1880 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures0 decades
  91. 91MultatuliMultatuli1820–1887 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writers9 decades
  92. 92Georg V of HanoverGeorg V of Hanover1819–1878 · Politicians15 decades
  93. 93Alexandre CabanelAlexandre Cabanel1823–1889 · 🇫🇷 France · Artists6 decades
  94. 94Elizabeth Cady StantonElizabeth Cady Stanton1815–1902 · 🇺🇸 United States · Writers15 decades
  95. 95Dominic SavioDominic Savio1842–1857 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Religious Figures11 decades
  96. 96Ferdinand II of PortugalFerdinand II of Portugal1816–1885 · 🇦🇹 Austria · Historical Figures21 decades
  97. 97Mary Baker EddyMary Baker Eddy1821–1910 · 🇺🇸 United States · Writers13 decades
  98. 98George MeadeGeorge Meade1815–1872 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists13 decades
  99. 99Nathan Bedford ForrestNathan Bedford Forrest1821–1877 · 🇺🇸 United States10 decades
  100. 100Gottfried KellerGottfried Keller1819–1890 · 🇨🇭 Switzerland · Writers18 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.