Claim profile
1700–1799

The 18th century

Whose working lives fell in the 18th 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 18th century, ranked where Wikipedia coverage and readership agree.

CountryAll🇫🇷 France🇩🇪 Germany🇺🇸 United States🇬🇧 United Kingdom🇮🇹 Italy🇪🇸 Spain🇸🇪 Sweden🇯🇵 Japan🇹🇷 Turkey🇨🇭 Switzerland
FieldAllPoliticiansHistorical FiguresWritersScientistsMusiciansArtistsAcademicsArchitectsDoctorsReligious Figures
  1. 1Wolfgang Amadeus MozartWolfgang Amadeus Mozart1756–1791 · 🇦🇹 Austria · Musicians21 decades
  2. 2Johann Wolfgang von GoetheJohann Wolfgang von Goethe1749–1832 · Writers14 decades
  3. 3Johann Sebastian BachJohann Sebastian Bach1685–1750 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Musicians22 decades
  4. 4Peter the GreatPeter the Great1672–1725 · Politicians21 decades
  5. 5VoltaireVoltaire1694–1778 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers22 decades
  6. 6Immanuel KantImmanuel Kant1724–1804 · Academics22 decades
  7. 7Catherine the GreatCatherine the Great1729–1796 · Historical Figures22 decades
  8. 8Jean-Jacques RousseauJean-Jacques Rousseau1712–1778 · 🇨🇭 Switzerland · Academics22 decades
  9. 9George WashingtonGeorge Washington1732–1799 · 🇺🇸 United States · Politicians22 decades
  10. 10Marie AntoinetteMarie Antoinette1755–1793 · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures22 decades
  11. 11Louis XVI of FranceLouis XVI of France1754–1793 · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures22 decades
  12. 12Benjamin FranklinBenjamin Franklin1706–1790 · 🇺🇸 United States · Politicians22 decades
  13. 13Francisco GoyaFrancisco Goya1746–1828 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Artists18 decades
  14. 14Antonio VivaldiAntonio Vivaldi1678–1741 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musicians14 decades
  15. 15Friedrich SchillerFriedrich Schiller1759–1805 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writers22 decades
  16. 16Maximilien RobespierreMaximilien Robespierre1758–1794 · 🇫🇷 France · Activists14 decades
  17. 17Mikhail LomonosovMikhail Lomonosov1711–1765 · Scientists19 decades
  18. 18Louis XV of FranceLouis XV of France1710–1774 · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures22 decades
  19. 19Frederick the GreatFrederick the Great1712–1786 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures22 decades
  20. 20Thomas JeffersonThomas Jefferson1743–1826 · 🇺🇸 United States · Politicians22 decades
  21. 21Maria TheresaMaria Theresa1717–1780 · 🇦🇹 Austria · Historical Figures22 decades
  22. 22Paul I of RussiaPaul I of Russia1754–1801 · Historical Figures21 decades
  23. 23George III of the United KingdomGeorge III of the United Kingdom1738–1820 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Historical Figures0 decades
  24. 24George Frideric HandelGeorge Frideric Handel1685–1759 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Musicians21 decades
  25. 25James CookJames Cook1728–1779 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Historical Figures22 decades
  26. 26Carl LinnaeusCarl Linnaeus1707–1778 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Scientists7 decades
  27. 27Joseph HaydnJoseph Haydn1732–1809 · 🇦🇹 Austria · Musicians22 decades
  28. 28Adam SmithAdam Smith1723–1790 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Academics22 decades
  29. 29Peter III of RussiaPeter III of Russia1728–1762 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures21 decades
  30. 30Elizabeth of RussiaElizabeth of Russia1709–1761 · Historical Figures20 decades
  31. 31Alexander SuvorovAlexander Suvorov1730–180018 decades
  32. 32Leonhard EulerLeonhard Euler1707–1783 · 🇨🇭 Switzerland · Academics22 decades
  33. 33MontesquieuMontesquieu1689–1755 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics22 decades
  34. 34Marquis de SadeMarquis de Sade1740–1814 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics12 decades
  35. 35Louis XVIII of FranceLouis XVIII of France1755–1824 · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians22 decades
  36. 36Denis DiderotDenis Diderot1713–1784 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics21 decades
  37. 37Antoine LavoisierAntoine Lavoisier1743–1794 · 🇫🇷 France · Scientists2 decades
  38. 38Catherine I of RussiaCatherine I of Russia1684–1727 · Historical Figures18 decades
  39. 39Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-PérigordCharles Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord1754–1839 · 🇫🇷 France · Politiciansnot measured—
  40. 40Giacomo CasanovaGiacomo Casanova1725–1798 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers20 decades
  41. 41HokusaiHokusai1760–1849 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Artists14 decades
  42. 42John AdamsJohn Adams1735–1826 · 🇺🇸 United States · Politicians22 decades
  43. 43Alessandro VoltaAlessandro Volta1745–1827 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Scientists22 decades
  44. 44George IV of the United KingdomGeorge IV of the United Kingdom1762–1830 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Politiciansnot measured—
  45. 45Charles X of FranceCharles X of France1757–1836 · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians22 decades
  46. 46Olympe de GougesOlympe de Gouges1748–1793 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers22 decades
  47. 47Alexander HamiltonAlexander Hamilton1757–1804 · 🇺🇸 United States · Politicians22 decades
  48. 48Anne, Queen of Great BritainAnne, Queen of Great Britain1665–1714 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Historical Figures0 decades
  49. 49Anna of RussiaAnna of Russia1693–1740 · Politicians21 decades
  50. 50Peter II of RussiaPeter II of Russia1715–1730 · Politicians19 decades
  51. 51Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount NelsonHoratio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson1758–1805 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Politicians22 decades
  52. 52Gotthold Ephraim LessingGotthold Ephraim Lessing1729–1781 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writers22 decades
  53. 53Georges DantonGeorges Danton1759–1794 · 🇫🇷 France · Activists0 decades
  54. 54Charles III of SpainCharles III of Spain1716–1788 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Models21 decades
  55. 55Jacques-Louis DavidJacques-Louis David1748–1825 · 🇫🇷 France · Artists7 decades
  56. 56Joséphine de BeauharnaisJoséphine de Beauharnais1763–1814 · 🇫🇷 France · Designers17 decades
  57. 57Joseph II, Holy Roman EmperorJoseph II, Holy Roman Emperor1741–1790 · 🇦🇹 Austria · Historical Figures22 decades
  58. 58David HumeDavid Hume1711–1776 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Academics22 decades
  59. 59Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de LafayetteGilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette1757–1834 · 🇫🇷 France · Politiciansnot measured—
  60. 60Jean-Paul MaratJean-Paul Marat1743–1793 · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians19 decades
  61. 61William BlakeWilliam Blake1757–1827 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Writers22 decades
  62. 62Philip V of SpainPhilip V of Spain1683–1746 · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians22 decades
  63. 63Pope Leo XIIPope Leo XII1760–1829 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Religious Figures20 decades
  64. 64Mikhail KutuzovMikhail Kutuzov1747–1813 · Politicians8 decades
  65. 65George II of Great BritainGeorge II of Great Britain1683–1760 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures22 decades
  66. 66James WattJames Watt1736–1819 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Scientists22 decades
  67. 67Qianlong EmperorQianlong Emperor1711–1799 · 🇨🇳 China · Historical Figures3 decades
  68. 68Charles XIV John of SwedenCharles XIV John of Sweden1763–1844 · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  69. 69Pierre BeaumarchaisPierre Beaumarchais1732–1799 · 🇫🇷 France · Writersnot measured—
  70. 70Johann Gottfried HerderJohann Gottfried Herder1744–1803 · Academics18 decades
  71. 71Pope Benedict XIVPope Benedict XIV1675–1758 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Religious Figures22 decades
  72. 72Carlo GoldoniCarlo Goldoni1707–1793 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers22 decades
  73. 73Pierre-Simon LaplacePierre-Simon Laplace1749–1827 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics2 decades
  74. 74Vitus BeringVitus Bering1681–1741 · Historical Figures0 decades
  75. 75James MadisonJames Madison1751–1836 · 🇺🇸 United States · Politicians22 decades
  76. 76Madame de PompadourMadame de Pompadour1721–1764 · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians22 decades
  77. 77Antonio SalieriAntonio Salieri1750–1825 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musicians15 decades
  78. 78Pope Pius VIPope Pius VI1717–1799 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Religious Figures22 decades
  79. 79Yemelyan PugachevYemelyan Pugachev1742–1775 · Activists18 decades
  80. 80Johann Gottlieb FichteJohann Gottlieb Fichte1762–1814 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Academics22 decades
  81. 81Charles IV of SpainCharles IV of Spain1748–1819 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Historical Figures17 decades
  82. 82Leopold II, Holy Roman EmperorLeopold II, Holy Roman Emperor1747–1792 · 🇦🇹 Austria · Politiciansnot measured—
  83. 83Charles VI, Holy Roman EmperorCharles VI, Holy Roman Emperor1685–1740 · 🇦🇹 Austria · Historical Figures22 decades
  84. 84Pope Pius VIIPope Pius VII1742–1823 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Religious Figures22 decades
  85. 85Francis I, Holy Roman EmperorFrancis I, Holy Roman Emperor1708–1765 · Historical Figures6 decades
  86. 86Jonathan SwiftJonathan Swift1667–1745 · Writers22 decades
  87. 87BlackbeardBlackbeard1680–1718 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Historical Figures22 decades
  88. 88Miguel Hidalgo Y CostillaMiguel Hidalgo Y Costilla1753–1811 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Religious Figures21 decades
  89. 89Johann Heinrich PestalozziJohann Heinrich Pestalozzi1746–1827 · 🇨🇭 Switzerland · Educators2 decades
  90. 90Ferdinand VI of SpainFerdinand VI of Spain1713–1759 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Models4 decades
  91. 91Grigory PotemkinGrigory Potemkin1739–1791 · Politicians16 decades
  92. 92Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de BuffonGeorges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon1707–1788 · 🇫🇷 France · Writersnot measured—
  93. 93Louis I of SpainLouis I of Spain1707–1724 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Politicians4 decades
  94. 94James MonroeJames Monroe1758–1831 · 🇺🇸 United States · Politicians22 decades
  95. 95Marquis de CondorcetMarquis de Condorcet1743–1794 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics1 decades
  96. 96Toussaint LouvertureToussaint Louverture1743–1803 · Politicians22 decades
  97. 97Gavrila DerzhavinGavrila Derzhavin1743–1816 · Writers17 decades
  98. 98Jean-Baptiste LamarckJean-Baptiste Lamarck1744–1829 · 🇫🇷 France · Scientists2 decades
  99. 99Jeremy BenthamJeremy Bentham1748–1832 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Academics22 decades
  100. 100Honoré Gabriel Riqueti, comte de MirabeauHonoré Gabriel Riqueti, comte de Mirabeau1749–1791 · 🇫🇷 France · Writersnot measured—

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.