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 Italian books during the 1850s — whenever they lived.

In books written inEnglish12,094German2,781French2,698Italian1,574Spanish890Russian146Hebrew78
  1. 1GiottoGiotto1267–1337 · 14th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists4.1
  2. 2Antonio da CorreggioAntonio da Correggio1489–1534 · 16th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists3.7
  3. 3Torquato TassoTorquato Tasso1544–1595 · 16th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers3.2
  4. 4Pietro PeruginoPietro Perugino1448–1523 · 15th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists2.9
  5. 5Lorenzo de' MediciLorenzo de' Medici1449–1492 · 15th century · Politicians2.9
  6. 6Charles BorromeoCharles Borromeo1538–1584 · 16th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Religious Figures2.8
  7. 7Dante AlighieriDante Alighieri1265–1321 · 14th century · Writers2.6
  8. 8Donato BramanteDonato Bramante1444–1514 · 15th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Architects2.5
  9. 9Cesare BalboCesare Balbo1789–1853 · 19th century · Politicians2.2
  10. 10CaravaggioCaravaggio1571–1610 · 17th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists2.1
  11. 11TintorettoTintoretto1519–1594 · 16th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists2.0
  12. 12Ugo FoscoloUgo Foscolo1778–1827 · 19th century · Writers1.9
  13. 13Philip NeriPhilip Neri1515–1595 · 16th century · Religious Figures1.8
  14. 14Paul the DeaconPaul the Deacon720–799 · 8th century · Writers1.8
  15. 15Giuseppe MazziniGiuseppe Mazzini1805–1872 · 19th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Activists1.8
  16. 16Vincenzo GiobertiVincenzo Gioberti1801–1852 · 19th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Academics1.8
  17. 17Andrea DoriaAndrea Doria1466–1560 · 16th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Politicians1.7
  18. 18Cosimo de' MediciCosimo de' Medici1389–1464 · 15th century · Politicians1.6
  19. 19DonatelloDonatello1386–1466 · 15th century · Artists1.5
  20. 20Leonardo da VinciLeonardo da Vinci1452–1519 · 15th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists1.4
  21. 21Francesco GuicciardiniFrancesco Guicciardini1483–1540 · 16th century · Writers1.4
  22. 22Marco PoloMarco Polo1254–1324 · 13th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Politicians1.4
  23. 23Cesare BorgiaCesare Borgia1475–1507 · 16th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Historical Figures1.4
  24. 24Silvio PellicoSilvio Pellico1789–1854 · 19th century · Writers1.3
  25. 25Apostolo ZenoApostolo Zeno1668–1750 · 18th century · Writers1.3
  26. 26Giulio RomanoGiulio Romano1499–1546 · 16th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists1.3
  27. 27Niccolò MachiavelliNiccolò Machiavelli1469–1527 · 16th century · Politicians1.2
  28. 28CimabueCimabue1240–1302 · 13th century · Artists1.2
  29. 29Vittorio AlfieriVittorio Alfieri1749–1803 · 18th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Historical Figures1.2
  30. 30GuercinoGuercino1591–1666 · 17th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists1.2
  31. 31Galileo GalileiGalileo Galilei1564–1642 · 16th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Scientists1.2
  32. 32Scipione GonzagaScipione Gonzaga1542–1593 · 16th century · Religious Figures1.1
  33. 33Filippo Maria ViscontiFilippo Maria Visconti1392–1447 · 15th century · Politicians1.1
  34. 34Teodato IpatoTeodato Ipato750–800 · 8th century · Politicians1.1
  35. 35Francis of AssisiFrancis of Assisi1182–1226 · 13th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers1.1
  36. 36Dino CompagniDino Compagni1255–1324 · 13th century · Writers1.1
  37. 37Girolamo SavonarolaGirolamo Savonarola1452–1498 · 15th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Politicians1.1
  38. 38Paolo VeronesePaolo Veronese1528–1588 · 16th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists1.0
  39. 39Lucrezia BorgiaLucrezia Borgia1480–1519 · 16th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Historical Figures1.0
  40. 40Benvenuto CelliniBenvenuto Cellini1500–1571 · 16th century · Artists1.00
  41. 41Massimo d'AzeglioMassimo d'Azeglio1798–1866 · 19th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Politicians0.99
  42. 42DomenichinoDomenichino1581–1641 · 17th century · Artists0.98
  43. 43PetrarchPetrarch1304–1374 · 14th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Academics0.98
  44. 44Prospero ColonnaProspero Colonna1452–1523 · 15th century0.97
  45. 45Paolo SarpiPaolo Sarpi1552–1623 · 16th century · Academics0.97
  46. 46MasaccioMasaccio1401–1428 · 15th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists0.96
  47. 47Aloysius GonzagaAloysius Gonzaga1568–1591 · 16th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Religious Figures0.96
  48. 48Giorgio VasariGiorgio Vasari1511–1574 · 16th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists0.94
  49. 49Cesare CantùCesare Cantù1804–1895 · 19th century · Writers0.94
  50. 50Guido CavalcantiGuido Cavalcanti1258–1300 · 13th century · Writers0.92
  51. 51Andrea del SartoAndrea del Sarto1486–1530 · 16th century · Artists0.92
  52. 52Pietro VerriPietro Verri1728–1797 · 18th century · Academics0.92
  53. 53Benedetto VarchiBenedetto Varchi1503–1565 · 16th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers0.91
  54. 54Francesco GonzagaFrancesco Gonzaga1444–1483 · 15th century0.88
  55. 55Bernardo TassoBernardo Tasso1493–1569 · 16th century · Writers0.85
  56. 56Luigi AlamanniLuigi Alamanni1495–1556 · 16th century · Writers0.84
  57. 57Alessandro ManzoniAlessandro Manzoni1785–1873 · 19th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers0.84
  58. 58Marsilio FicinoMarsilio Ficino1433–1499 · 15th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Academics0.82
  59. 59Franco SacchettiFranco Sacchetti1332–1400 · 14th century · Writers0.80
  60. 60Giovanni BoccaccioGiovanni Boccaccio1313–1375 · 14th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers0.80
  61. 61MVMatteo Villani1283–1363 · 14th century · Writers0.79
  62. 62Pietro BemboPietro Bembo1470–1547 · 16th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Religious Figures0.78
  63. 63Scipione AmmiratoScipione Ammirato1531–1601 · 16th century · Writers0.77
  64. 64Federico BorromeoFederico Borromeo1564–1631 · 16th century · Religious Figures0.76
  65. 65Francesco Scipione, marchese di MaffeiFrancesco Scipione, marchese di Maffei1675–1755 · 18th century · Writers0.76
  66. 66Guido ReniGuido Reni1575–1642 · 17th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists0.75
  67. 67Andrea GrittiAndrea Gritti1455–1538 · 15th century · Politicians0.73
  68. 68Pietro AretinoPietro Aretino1492–1556 · 16th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers0.73
  69. 69Baldassare FranceschiniBaldassare Franceschini1611–1690 · 17th century · Artists0.73
  70. 70Giacomo LeopardiGiacomo Leopardi1798–1837 · 19th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers0.70
  71. 71Francesco FoscariFrancesco Foscari1373–1457 · 15th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Politicians0.70
  72. 72Catherine de' MediciCatherine de' Medici1519–1589 · 16th century · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures0.66
  73. 73Paolo GiovioPaolo Giovio1483–1552 · 16th century · Writers0.66
  74. 74Salvator RosaSalvator Rosa1615–1673 · 17th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists0.66
  75. 75Andrea DandoloAndrea Dandolo1306–1354 · 14th century · Politicians0.65
  76. 76Antonio RosminiAntonio Rosmini1797–1855 · 19th century · Academics0.65
  77. 77Francesco VettoriFrancesco Vettori1474–1540 · 16th century · Writers0.64
  78. 78Guido BonattiGuido Bonatti1210–1296 · 13th century · Scientists0.64
  79. 79Bernardino of SienaBernardino of Siena1380–1444 · 15th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Academics0.63
  80. 80PinturicchioPinturicchio1454–1513 · 15th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists0.59
  81. 81Domenico PassignanoDomenico Passignano1559–1638 · 16th century · Artists0.58
  82. 82Giuliano de' MediciGiuliano de' Medici1453–1478 · 15th century · Politicians0.58
  83. 83Francesca da RiminiFrancesca da Rimini1259–1285 · 13th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers0.57
  84. 84Filippo VillaniFilippo Villani1325–1407 · 14th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers0.57
  85. 85Pietro LombardoPietro Lombardo1435–1515 · 15th century · Artists0.57
  86. 86Alessandro CagliostroAlessandro Cagliostro1743–1795 · 18th century · 🇫🇷 France · Doctors0.57
  87. 87Pope Clement VIIPope Clement VII1478–1534 · 16th century · Religious Figures0.56
  88. 88Francesco MorosiniFrancesco Morosini1619–1694 · 17th century · Politicians0.55
  89. 89Erasmo of NarniErasmo of Narni1370–1443 · 15th century · 🇮🇹 Italy0.54
  90. 90Vittoria ColonnaVittoria Colonna1492–1547 · 16th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers0.54
  91. 91Angelo GrilloAngelo Grillo1557–1629 · 16th century · Writers0.53
  92. 92AMAldus Manutius the Younger1547–1597 · 16th century0.53
  93. 93Aldus ManutiusAldus Manutius1449–1515 · 15th century · 🇮🇹 Italy0.53
  94. 94Francesco FerrucciFrancesco Ferrucci1489–1530 · 16th century0.52
  95. 95Marco FoscariniMarco Foscarini1696–1763 · 18th century · Writers0.51
  96. 96Giordano BrunoGiordano Bruno1548–1600 · 16th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Academics0.49
  97. 97Giuseppe GiustiGiuseppe Giusti1809–1850 · 19th century · Writers0.48
  98. 98Leon Battista AlbertiLeon Battista Alberti1404–1472 · 15th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Architects0.47
  99. 99Ippolito PindemonteIppolito Pindemonte1753–1828 · 18th century · Writers0.46
  100. 100ParmigianinoParmigianino1503–1540 · 16th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists0.45

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.