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🇦🇹 Austria
FieldAllPoliticiansHistorical FiguresWritersScientistsMusiciansArtistsAcademicsArchitectsDoctorsReligious Figures
  1. 1Johann Sebastian BachJohann Sebastian Bach1685–1750 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Musicians22 decades
  2. 2George Frideric HandelGeorge Frideric Handel1685–1759 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Musicians21 decades
  3. 3Christoph Willibald GluckChristoph Willibald Gluck1714–1787 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Musicians9 decades
  4. 4Carl Philipp Emanuel BachCarl Philipp Emanuel Bach1714–1788 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Musicians15 decades
  5. 5Georg Philipp TelemannGeorg Philipp Telemann1681–1767 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Musicians12 decades
  6. 6Leopold MozartLeopold Mozart1719–1787 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Musicians20 decades
  7. 7Johann Christian BachJohann Christian Bach1735–1782 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Musicians12 decades
  8. 8Constanze MozartConstanze Mozart1762–1842 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Musicians6 decades
  9. 9Wilhelm Friedemann BachWilhelm Friedemann Bach1710–1784 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Musicians13 decades
  10. 10Anna Magdalena BachAnna Magdalena Bach1701–1760 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Musicians10 decades
  11. 11Johann Christoph Friedrich BachJohann Christoph Friedrich Bach1732–1795 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Musicians6 decades
  12. 12Johann Joachim QuantzJohann Joachim Quantz1697–1773 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Musicians7 decades
  13. 13Maria Antonia Walpurgis of BavariaMaria Antonia Walpurgis of Bavaria1724–1780 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Musicians0 decades
  14. 14Maria Barbara BachMaria Barbara Bach1684–1720 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Musicians0 decades
  15. 15Carl StamitzCarl Stamitz1745–1801 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Musicians6 decades
  16. 16Johann van BeethovenJohann van Beethoven1739–1792 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Musicians12 decades
  17. 17Friedrich Wilhelm Bülow von DennewitzFriedrich Wilhelm Bülow von Dennewitz1755–1816 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Musiciansnot measured—
  18. 18Johann MatthesonJohann Mattheson1681–1764 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Musicians9 decades
  19. 19Sylvius Leopold WeissSylvius Leopold Weiss1687–1750 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Musicians0 decades
  20. 20Ernest Louis, Landgrave of Hesse-DarmstadtErnest Louis, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt1667–1739 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Musicians22 decades
  21. 21Christoph GraupnerChristoph Graupner1683–1760 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Musicians6 decades
  22. 22Carl Heinrich GraunCarl Heinrich Graun1704–1759 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Musicians8 decades
  23. 23Johann Ludwig BachJohann Ludwig Bach1677–1731 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Musicians1 decades
  24. 24Georg BendaGeorg Benda1722–1795 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Musicians0 decades
  25. 25JDJohann David Heinichen1683–1729 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Musicians4 decades
  26. 26JCJohann Christoph Bach III1671–1721 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Musicians11 decades
  27. 27Johann Georg PisendelJohann Georg Pisendel1687–1755 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Musicians3 decades
  28. 28Wilhelm Friedrich Ernst BachWilhelm Friedrich Ernst Bach1759–1845 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Musicians0 decades
  29. 29Johann KirnbergerJohann Kirnberger1721–1783 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Musicians5 decades
  30. 30Johann Friedrich ReichardtJohann Friedrich Reichardt1752–1814 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Musicians17 decades
  31. 31Johann Christoph PepuschJohann Christoph Pepusch1667–1752 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Musicians0 decades
  32. 32Georg Joseph VoglerGeorg Joseph Vogler1749–1814 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Musicians6 decades
  33. 33JGJohann Gottfried Walther1684–1748 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Musicians7 decades
  34. 34JGJohann Gottfried Bernhard Bach1715–1739 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Musicians0 decades
  35. 35Reinhard KeiserReinhard Keiser1674–1739 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Musicians17 decades
  36. 36Franz Anton HoffmeisterFranz Anton Hoffmeister1754–1812 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Musicians5 decades
  37. 37Gottfried Heinrich StölzelGottfried Heinrich Stölzel1690–1749 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Musicians4 decades
  38. 38Johann SchobertJohann Schobert1720–1767 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Musicians0 decades
  39. 39Johann Andreas SteinJohann Andreas Stein1728–1792 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Musicians5 decades
  40. 40Johann Adam HillerJohann Adam Hiller1728–1804 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Musicians19 decades
  41. 41Christian CannabichChristian Cannabich1731–1798 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Musicians5 decades
  42. 42GHGottfried Heinrich Bach1724–1763 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Musicians0 decades
  43. 43Johann Gottlieb NaumannJohann Gottlieb Naumann1741–1801 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Musicians3 decades
  44. 44JGJohann Gottlieb Graun1703–1771 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Musicians3 decades
  45. 45Johann Adolf ScheibeJohann Adolf Scheibe1708–1776 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Musicians5 decades
  46. 46Daniel Gottlob TürkDaniel Gottlob Türk1750–1813 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Musicians5 decades
  47. 47Johann Abraham Peter SchulzJohann Abraham Peter Schulz1747–1800 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Musicians7 decades
  48. 48JBJohann Bernhard Bach the elder1676–1749 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Musicians0 decades
  49. 49Franz Ignaz BeckFranz Ignaz Beck1734–1809 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Musicians0 decades
  50. 50JCJohann Christoph Altnickol1719–1759 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Musicians0 decades
  51. 51Francesca LebrunFrancesca Lebrun1756–1791 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Musicians0 decades
  52. 52Friedrich Wilhelm MarpurgFriedrich Wilhelm Marpurg1718–1795 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Musicians6 decades
  53. 53Carl Friedrich Christian FaschCarl Friedrich Christian Fasch1736–1800 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Musicians1 decades
  54. 54Johann Wilhelm HertelJohann Wilhelm Hertel1727–1789 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Musicians2 decades
  55. 55Ernst Wilhelm WolfErnst Wilhelm Wolf1735–1792 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Musicians3 decades
  56. 56JNJohann Nicolaus Bach1669–1753 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Musicians0 decades
  57. 57Johann AndréJohann André1741–1799 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Musicians4 decades
  58. 58Princess Louise of Saxe-MeiningenPrincess Louise of Saxe-Meiningen1752–1805 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Musiciansnot measured—
  59. 59Johann Christian SchickhardtJohann Christian Schickhardt1680–1762 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Musicians0 decades
  60. 60JPJohann Peter Kellner1705–1772 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Musicians2 decades
  61. 61AFAnton Fils1733–1760 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Musicians1 decades
  62. 62Johann Georg WilleJohann Georg Wille1715–1808 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Musicians5 decades
  63. 63Martin GerbertMartin Gerbert1720–1793 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Musicians21 decades
  64. 64JHJohann Heinrich Buttstett1666–1727 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Musicians0 decades
  65. 65Johann Christian KittelJohann Christian Kittel1732–1809 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Musicians4 decades
  66. 66CSChristoph Schaffrath1709–1763 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Musicians0 decades
  67. 67Gottfried ReicheGottfried Reiche1667–1734 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Musiciansnot measured—
  68. 68Johann Gottfried MüthelJohann Gottfried Müthel1728–1788 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Musiciansnot measured—
  69. 69Johann Friedrich DolesJohann Friedrich Doles1715–1797 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Musicians3 decades
  70. 70WHWilhelm Hieronymus Pachelbel1686–1764 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Musiciansnot measured—
  71. 71Johann Christian FischerJohann Christian Fischer1733–1800 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Musiciansnot measured—
  72. 72Christian Ferdinand AbelChristian Ferdinand Abel1682–1761 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Musicians0 decades
  73. 73Wilhelm CramerWilhelm Cramer1746–1799 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Musiciansnot measured—
  74. 74Ernst Gottlieb BaronErnst Gottlieb Baron1696–1760 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Musicians0 decades
  75. 75Anton SchweitzerAnton Schweitzer1735–1787 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Musicians8 decades
  76. 76Johann Heinrich RolleJohann Heinrich Rolle1716–1785 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Musicians4 decades
  77. 77Ignaz FränzlIgnaz Fränzl1736–1811 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Musiciansnot measured—
  78. 78Adam FalckenhagenAdam Falckenhagen1697–1754 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Musiciansnot measured—
  79. 79Friedrich Wilhelm RustFriedrich Wilhelm Rust1739–1796 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Musiciansnot measured—
  80. 80Leopold August AbelLeopold August Abel1718–1794 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Musiciansnot measured—
  81. 81EEErnst Eichner1740–1777 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Musiciansnot measured—
  82. 82Johann Anastasius FreylinghausenJohann Anastasius Freylinghausen1670–1739 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Musiciansnot measured—
  83. 83JSJohann Samuel Schröter1753–1788 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Musiciansnot measured—
  84. 84Johann Lorenz BachJohann Lorenz Bach1695–1773 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Musiciansnot measured—
  85. 85Johann George TromlitzJohann George Tromlitz1725–1805 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Musiciansnot measured—
  86. 86JCJohann Christian Schieferdecker1679–1732 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Musiciansnot measured—
  87. 87Johann Ernst GalliardJohann Ernst Galliard1687–1749 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Musiciansnot measured—
  88. 88JEJohann Evangelist Haydn1743–1805 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Musiciansnot measured—
  89. 89Jacob DennerJacob Denner1681–1735 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Musiciansnot measured—
  90. 90GFGeorg Friedrich Kauffmann1679–1735 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Musiciansnot measured—
  91. 91JGJohann Gottlob Harrer1703–1755 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Musiciansnot measured—
  92. 92JRJuliane Reichardt1752–1783 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Musiciansnot measured—
  93. 93CKChristian Kalkbrenner1755–1806 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Musiciansnot measured—
  94. 94JEJohann Ernst Altenburg1734–1801 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Musiciansnot measured—
  95. 95Johann Baptist WendlingJohann Baptist Wendling1723–1797 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Musiciansnot measured—
  96. 96FVFrancesco Venturini1675–1745 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Musiciansnot measured—
  97. 97HRHermann Raupach1728–1778 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Musiciansnot measured—
  98. 98Valentin AdambergerValentin Adamberger1740–1804 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Musiciansnot measured—
  99. 99Friedrich Hartmann GrafFriedrich Hartmann Graf1727–1795 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Musiciansnot measured—
  100. 100GGGeorg Gebel1709–1753 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Musiciansnot 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.