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. 1Peter the GreatPeter the Great1672–1725 · Politicians21 decades
  2. 2George WashingtonGeorge Washington1732–1799 · 🇺🇸 United States · Politicians22 decades
  3. 3Benjamin FranklinBenjamin Franklin1706–1790 · 🇺🇸 United States · Politicians22 decades
  4. 4Thomas JeffersonThomas Jefferson1743–1826 · 🇺🇸 United States · Politicians22 decades
  5. 5Louis XVIII of FranceLouis XVIII of France1755–1824 · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians22 decades
  6. 6Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-PérigordCharles Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord1754–1839 · 🇫🇷 France · Politiciansnot measured—
  7. 7John AdamsJohn Adams1735–1826 · 🇺🇸 United States · Politicians22 decades
  8. 8George IV of the United KingdomGeorge IV of the United Kingdom1762–1830 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Politiciansnot measured—
  9. 9Charles X of FranceCharles X of France1757–1836 · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians22 decades
  10. 10Alexander HamiltonAlexander Hamilton1757–1804 · 🇺🇸 United States · Politicians22 decades
  11. 11Anna of RussiaAnna of Russia1693–1740 · Politicians21 decades
  12. 12Peter II of RussiaPeter II of Russia1715–1730 · Politicians19 decades
  13. 13Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount NelsonHoratio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson1758–1805 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Politicians22 decades
  14. 14Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de LafayetteGilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette1757–1834 · 🇫🇷 France · Politiciansnot measured—
  15. 15Jean-Paul MaratJean-Paul Marat1743–1793 · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians19 decades
  16. 16Philip V of SpainPhilip V of Spain1683–1746 · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians22 decades
  17. 17Mikhail KutuzovMikhail Kutuzov1747–1813 · Politicians8 decades
  18. 18James MadisonJames Madison1751–1836 · 🇺🇸 United States · Politicians22 decades
  19. 19Madame de PompadourMadame de Pompadour1721–1764 · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians22 decades
  20. 20Leopold II, Holy Roman EmperorLeopold II, Holy Roman Emperor1747–1792 · 🇦🇹 Austria · Politiciansnot measured—
  21. 21Grigory PotemkinGrigory Potemkin1739–1791 · Politicians16 decades
  22. 22Louis I of SpainLouis I of Spain1707–1724 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Politicians4 decades
  23. 23James MonroeJames Monroe1758–1831 · 🇺🇸 United States · Politicians22 decades
  24. 24Toussaint LouvertureToussaint Louverture1743–1803 · Politicians22 decades
  25. 25Joseph FouchéJoseph Fouché1759–1820 · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians10 decades
  26. 26Edmund BurkeEdmund Burke1729–1797 · Politicians22 decades
  27. 27Louis Antoine de Saint-JustLouis Antoine de Saint-Just1767–1794 · 🇫🇷 France · Politiciansnot measured—
  28. 28Francisco de MirandaFrancisco de Miranda1750–1816 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Politicians22 decades
  29. 29Túpac Amaru IITúpac Amaru II1738–1781 · Politicians9 decades
  30. 30Jean-Jacques DessalinesJean-Jacques Dessalines1758–1806 · Politicians8 decades
  31. 31Emmanuel Joseph SieyèsEmmanuel Joseph Sieyès1748–1836 · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians0 decades
  32. 32Aaron BurrAaron Burr1756–1836 · 🇺🇸 United States · Politicians22 decades
  33. 33Ivan VI of RussiaIvan VI of Russia1740–1764 · Politicians0 decades
  34. 34Louis Antoine de BougainvilleLouis Antoine de Bougainville1729–1811 · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians4 decades
  35. 35Jacques NeckerJacques Necker1732–1804 · 🇨🇭 Switzerland · Politicians15 decades
  36. 36Pasquale PaoliPasquale Paoli1725–1807 · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians22 decades
  37. 37José Gervasio ArtigasJosé Gervasio Artigas1764–1850 · Politicians15 decades
  38. 38Alexei Petrovich, Tsarevich of RussiaAlexei Petrovich, Tsarevich of Russia1690–1718 · Politicians20 decades
  39. 39Jean Anthelme Brillat-SavarinJean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin1755–1826 · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians0 decades
  40. 40Charles Edward StuartCharles Edward Stuart1720–1788 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Politicians22 decades
  41. 41Carlo BuonaparteCarlo Buonaparte1746–1785 · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians20 decades
  42. 42Jiaqing EmperorJiaqing Emperor1760–1820 · Politiciansnot measured—
  43. 43Victor Amadeus II of SardiniaVictor Amadeus II of Sardinia1666–1732 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Politicians18 decades
  44. 44William Pitt the YoungerWilliam Pitt the Younger1759–1806 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Politicians3 decades
  45. 45Stanisław August PoniatowskiStanisław August Poniatowski1732–1798 · Politicians0 decades
  46. 46Louis, Dauphin of FranceLouis, Dauphin of France1729–1765 · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians22 decades
  47. 47Maria Luisa of SavoyMaria Luisa of Savoy1688–1714 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Politicians21 decades
  48. 48Louis, Duke of BurgundyLouis, Duke of Burgundy1682–1712 · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians22 decades
  49. 49Robert WalpoleRobert Walpole1676–1745 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Politicians22 decades
  50. 50Gustav III of SwedenGustav III of Sweden1746–1792 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Politicians22 decades
  51. 51André MassénaAndré Masséna1758–1817 · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians2 decades
  52. 52Calico JackCalico Jack1682–1720 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Politicians1 decades
  53. 53Alexander MenshikovAlexander Menshikov1673–1729 · Politicians19 decades
  54. 54Paul BarrasPaul Barras1755–1829 · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians6 decades
  55. 55Louis Philippe II, Duke of OrléansLouis Philippe II, Duke of Orléans1747–1793 · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians22 decades
  56. 56Ali Pasha of IoanninaAli Pasha of Ioannina1750–1822 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Politicians0 decades
  57. 57Samuel AdamsSamuel Adams1722–1803 · 🇺🇸 United States · Politicians22 decades
  58. 58Michael Andreas Barclay de TollyMichael Andreas Barclay de Tolly1761–1818 · Politicians0 decades
  59. 59William BlighWilliam Bligh1754–1817 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Politicians16 decades
  60. 60Charles Cornwallis, 1st Marquess CornwallisCharles Cornwallis, 1st Marquess Cornwallis1738–1805 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Politiciansnot measured—
  61. 61Martha WashingtonMartha Washington1731–1802 · 🇺🇸 United States · Politicians21 decades
  62. 62Maurice de SaxeMaurice de Saxe1696–1750 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Politicians22 decades
  63. 63Johann Friedrich StruenseeJohann Friedrich Struensee1737–1772 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Politicians5 decades
  64. 64Abigail AdamsAbigail Adams1744–1818 · 🇺🇸 United States · Politicians16 decades
  65. 65William WilberforceWilliam Wilberforce1759–1833 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Politicians22 decades
  66. 66Jacques Pierre BrissotJacques Pierre Brissot1754–1793 · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians0 decades
  67. 67William Pitt, 1st Earl of ChathamWilliam Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham1708–1778 · Politiciansnot measured—
  68. 68Agha Mohammad Khan QajarAgha Mohammad Khan Qajar1742–1797 · Politicians0 decades
  69. 69Francis II RákócziFrancis II Rákóczi1676–1735 · Politicians1 decades
  70. 70Charles Grey, 2nd Earl GreyCharles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey1764–1845 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Politiciansnot measured—
  71. 71Elisabeth Christine of Brunswick-WolfenbüttelElisabeth Christine of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel1691–1750 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Politiciansnot measured—
  72. 72Alexei Grigoryevich OrlovAlexei Grigoryevich Orlov1737–1807 · Politicians17 decades
  73. 73Maria Luisa of SpainMaria Luisa of Spain1745–1792 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Politicians15 decades
  74. 74Tipu SultanTipu Sultan1750–1799 · 🇮🇳 India · Politicians15 decades
  75. 75Sophia Dorothea of CelleSophia Dorothea of Celle1666–1726 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Politiciansnot measured—
  76. 76Maria Anna of NeuburgMaria Anna of Neuburg1667–1740 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Politicians0 decades
  77. 77John HancockJohn Hancock1737–1793 · 🇺🇸 United States · Politicians22 decades
  78. 78John JayJohn Jay1745–1829 · 🇺🇸 United States · Politicians22 decades
  79. 79Alexandre de BeauharnaisAlexandre de Beauharnais1760–1794 · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians22 decades
  80. 80Robert CliveRobert Clive1725–1774 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Politicians22 decades
  81. 81Gerhard von ScharnhorstGerhard von Scharnhorst1755–1813 · Politicians5 decades
  82. 82Gaspar Melchor de JovellanosGaspar Melchor de Jovellanos1744–1811 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Politicians22 decades
  83. 83François Christophe de KellermannFrançois Christophe de Kellermann1735–1820 · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians0 decades
  84. 84Chevalier d'ÉonChevalier d'Éon1728–1810 · 🇫🇷 France · Politiciansnot measured—
  85. 85August Neidhardt von GneisenauAugust Neidhardt von Gneisenau1760–1831 · Politicians0 decades
  86. 86Sebastião José de Carvalho e Melo, 1st Marquis of PombalSebastião José de Carvalho e Melo, 1st Marquis of Pombal1699–1782 · 🇵🇹 Portugal · Politiciansnot measured—
  87. 87Jean-Baptiste JourdanJean-Baptiste Jourdan1762–1833 · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians0 decades
  88. 88Charles Alexandre de CalonneCharles Alexandre de Calonne1734–1802 · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians0 decades
  89. 89Elbridge GerryElbridge Gerry1744–1814 · 🇺🇸 United States · Politicians22 decades
  90. 90Spencer PercevalSpencer Perceval1762–1812 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Politicians22 decades
  91. 91Patrick HenryPatrick Henry1736–1799 · 🇺🇸 United States · Politicians22 decades
  92. 92Georges CouthonGeorges Couthon1755–1794 · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians3 decades
  93. 93Ludovico ManinLudovico Manin1725–1802 · Politicians12 decades
  94. 94Sheikh MansurSheikh Mansur1762–1794 · Politicians2 decades
  95. 95Friedrich Christian I, Elector of SaxonyFriedrich Christian I, Elector of Saxony1722–1763 · Politicians22 decades
  96. 96Prince Charles Alexander of LorrainePrince Charles Alexander of Lorraine1712–1780 · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians0 decades
  97. 97William IV, Prince of OrangeWilliam IV, Prince of Orange1711–1751 · 🇳🇱 Netherlands · Politicians22 decades
  98. 98John MarshallJohn Marshall1755–1835 · 🇺🇸 United States · Politicians22 decades
  99. 99Louis Philippe I, Duke of OrléansLouis Philippe I, Duke of Orléans1725–1785 · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians22 decades
  100. 100Laurent Gouvion Saint-CyrLaurent Gouvion Saint-Cyr1764–1830 · 🇫🇷 France · Politiciansnot 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.