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. 1Pope Leo XIIPope Leo XII1760–1829 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Religious Figures20 decades
  2. 2Pope Benedict XIVPope Benedict XIV1675–1758 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Religious Figures22 decades
  3. 3Pope Pius VIPope Pius VI1717–1799 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Religious Figures22 decades
  4. 4Pope Pius VIIPope Pius VII1742–1823 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Religious Figures22 decades
  5. 5Miguel Hidalgo Y CostillaMiguel Hidalgo Y Costilla1753–1811 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Religious Figures21 decades
  6. 6Pope Clement XIVPope Clement XIV1705–1774 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Religious Figures20 decades
  7. 7Pope Clement XIIIPope Clement XIII1693–1769 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Religious Figures21 decades
  8. 8Pope Pius VIIIPope Pius VIII1761–1830 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Religious Figures1 decades
  9. 9Alphonsus LiguoriAlphonsus Liguori1696–1787 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Religious Figures18 decades
  10. 10Louis de MontfortLouis de Montfort1673–1716 · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figuresnot measured—
  11. 11John NewtonJohn Newton1725–1807 · Religious Figures22 decades
  12. 12Junípero SerraJunípero Serra1713–1784 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Religious Figures18 decades
  13. 13Henri GrégoireHenri Grégoire1750–1831 · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figures18 decades
  14. 14Archduke Maximilian Francis of AustriaArchduke Maximilian Francis of Austria1756–1801 · 🇦🇹 Austria · Religious Figuresnot measured—
  15. 15Cardinal de RohanCardinal de Rohan1734–1803 · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figuresnot measured—
  16. 16Henry Benedict StuartHenry Benedict Stuart1725–1807 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Religious Figures0 decades
  17. 17Gerard MajellaGerard Majella1726–1755 · Religious Figures9 decades
  18. 18Clemens August of BavariaClemens August of Bavaria1700–1761 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Religious Figures5 decades
  19. 19John CarrollJohn Carroll1735–1815 · 🇺🇸 United States · Religious Figures22 decades
  20. 20Patriarch Grigorios V of ConstantinoplePatriarch Grigorios V of Constantinople1745–1821 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Religious Figuresnot measured—
  21. 21Frei GalvãoFrei Galvão1739–1822 · 🇧🇷 Brazil · Religious Figuresnot measured—
  22. 22Augustin BarruelAugustin Barruel1741–1820 · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figures4 decades
  23. 23Clemens Maria HofbauerClemens Maria Hofbauer1751–1820 · Religious Figures10 decades
  24. 24Tikhon of ZadonskTikhon of Zadonsk1724–1783 · Religious Figures16 decades
  25. 25Richard AllenRichard Allen1760–1831 · 🇺🇸 United States · Religious Figures22 decades
  26. 26Pigneau de BehainePigneau de Behaine1741–1799 · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figuresnot measured—
  27. 27Ernest Augustus, Duke of York and AlbanyErnest Augustus, Duke of York and Albany1674–1728 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Religious Figures0 decades
  28. 28Joseph Clemens of BavariaJoseph Clemens of Bavaria1671–1723 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Religious Figures1 decades
  29. 29John Theodore of BavariaJohn Theodore of Bavaria1703–1763 · Religious Figures3 decades
  30. 30William Joseph ChaminadeWilliam Joseph Chaminade1761–1850 · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figures0 decades
  31. 31Clemens Wenceslaus of SaxonyClemens Wenceslaus of Saxony1739–1812 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Religious Figures5 decades
  32. 32Giovanni Battista SidottiGiovanni Battista Sidotti1667–1714 · Religious Figures0 decades
  33. 33Francis AsburyFrancis Asbury1745–1816 · Religious Figures22 decades
  34. 34Giovanni Battista Caprara MontecuccoliGiovanni Battista Caprara Montecuccoli1733–1810 · Religious Figuresnot measured—
  35. 35ABAlban Butler1710–1773 · Religious Figures13 decades
  36. 36Charles Joseph of LorraineCharles Joseph of Lorraine1680–1715 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Religious Figuresnot measured—
  37. 37Giuseppe Simone AssemaniGiuseppe Simone Assemani1687–1768 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Religious Figures6 decades
  38. 38Michał Jerzy PoniatowskiMichał Jerzy Poniatowski1736–1794 · Religious Figuresnot measured—
  39. 39Andrew FournetAndrew Fournet1752–1834 · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figures0 decades
  40. 40DLDomenico Lorenzo Ponziani1719–1796 · Religious Figuresnot measured—
  41. 41Damian Hugo Philipp von SchönbornDamian Hugo Philipp von Schönborn1676–1743 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Religious Figuresnot measured—
  42. 42Frederick Charles of SchönbornFrederick Charles of Schönborn1674–1746 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Religious Figuresnot measured—
  43. 43Vincent StrambiVincent Strambi1745–1824 · Religious Figures6 decades
  44. 44Christophe de BeaumontChristophe de Beaumont1703–1781 · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figures22 decades
  45. 45Gabriel-Taurin DufresseGabriel-Taurin Dufresse1750–1815 · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figures0 decades
  46. 46Tadeusz BrzozowskiTadeusz Brzozowski1749–1820 · Religious Figures0 decades
  47. 47Vicente Liem de la PazVicente Liem de la Paz1732–1773 · Religious Figuresnot measured—
  48. 48Niccolò CosciaNiccolò Coscia1682–1755 · Religious Figures2 decades
  49. 49Joseph-François LafitauJoseph-François Lafitau1681–1746 · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figures0 decades
  50. 50Franz Regis CletFranz Regis Clet1748–1820 · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figures0 decades
  51. 51Henry Essex EdgeworthHenry Essex Edgeworth1745–1807 · Religious Figuresnot measured—
  52. 52Johann Ernst HanxledenJohann Ernst Hanxleden1681–1732 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Religious Figures0 decades
  53. 53Christian August of Saxe-ZeitzChristian August of Saxe-Zeitz1666–1725 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Religious Figuresnot measured—
  54. 54Richard ChallonerRichard Challoner1691–1781 · Religious Figuresnot measured—
  55. 55Maximilian Frederick of Königsegg-RothenfelsMaximilian Frederick of Königsegg-Rothenfels1708–1784 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Religious Figuresnot measured—
  56. 56Angelo d'AcriAngelo d'Acri1669–1739 · Religious Figures2 decades
  57. 57Bernard of HoyosBernard of Hoyos1711–1735 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Religious Figuresnot measured—
  58. 58Thomas CokeThomas Coke1747–1814 · Religious Figuresnot measured—
  59. 59Henric SchartauHenric Schartau1757–1825 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Religious Figuresnot measured—
  60. 60Alessandro MatteiAlessandro Mattei1744–1820 · Religious Figures20 decades
  61. 61ArseniusArsenius1697–1772 · Religious Figuresnot measured—
  62. 62Charles François LhomondCharles François Lhomond1727–1794 · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figures0 decades
  63. 63Gennaro Maria SarnelliGennaro Maria Sarnelli1702–1744 · Religious Figuresnot measured—
  64. 64Ferdinand Maximilien Mériadec de RohanFerdinand Maximilien Mériadec de Rohan1738–1813 · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figuresnot measured—
  65. 65Annibale AlbaniAnnibale Albani1682–1751 · Religious Figures22 decades
  66. 66John DuboisJohn Dubois1764–1842 · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figuresnot measured—
  67. 67Alonso Núñez de Haro y PeraltaAlonso Núñez de Haro y Peralta1729–1800 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Religious Figuresnot measured—
  68. 68Scipione de' RicciScipione de' Ricci1740–1810 · Religious Figures22 decades
  69. 69Christoph Anton MigazziChristoph Anton Migazzi1714–1803 · Religious Figures0 decades
  70. 70Claude Poullart des PlacesClaude Poullart des Places1679–1709 · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figuresnot measured—
  71. 71Count Leopold Anton von FirmianCount Leopold Anton von Firmian1679–1744 · Religious Figuresnot measured—
  72. 72Yohannan VIII HormizdYohannan VIII Hormizd1760–1838 · Religious Figuresnot measured—
  73. 73Antonio Francesco GoriAntonio Francesco Gori1691–1757 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Religious Figuresnot measured—
  74. 74Carlo RezzonicoCarlo Rezzonico1724–1799 · Religious Figures0 decades
  75. 75Fabrizio Sceberras TestaferrataFabrizio Sceberras Testaferrata1757–1843 · Religious Figuresnot measured—
  76. 76Tomás de AlmeidaTomás de Almeida1670–1754 · Religious Figuresnot measured—
  77. 77Friedrich Karl Joseph von ErthalFriedrich Karl Joseph von Erthal1719–1802 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Religious Figuresnot measured—
  78. 78Neri Maria CorsiniNeri Maria Corsini1685–1770 · Religious Figures6 decades
  79. 79César-Constantin-François de HoensbroeckCésar-Constantin-François de Hoensbroeck1724–1792 · Religious Figuresnot measured—
  80. 80Lorenzo LittaLorenzo Litta1756–1820 · Religious Figures20 decades
  81. 81François-Charles de VelbrückFrançois-Charles de Velbrück1719–1784 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Religious Figuresnot measured—
  82. 82Domenico Orsini d'AragonaDomenico Orsini d'Aragona1719–1789 · Religious Figuresnot measured—
  83. 83Leonard NealeLeonard Neale1746–1817 · 🇺🇸 United States · Religious Figuresnot measured—
  84. 84Paul d'Albert, Cardinal de LuynesPaul d'Albert, Cardinal de Luynes1703–1788 · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figures1 decades
  85. 85Antonio Despuig y DametoAntonio Despuig y Dameto1745–1813 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Religious Figures8 decades
  86. 86Cardinal de SoubiseCardinal de Soubise1717–1756 · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figures0 decades
  87. 87Christian DavidChristian David1692–1751 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Religious Figuresnot measured—
  88. 88Władysław Aleksander ŁubieńskiWładysław Aleksander Łubieński1703–1767 · Religious Figuresnot measured—
  89. 89Cristóbal Bencomo y RodríguezCristóbal Bencomo y Rodríguez1758–1835 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Religious Figuresnot measured—
  90. 90Alexander RudnayAlexander Rudnay1760–1831 · Religious Figures1 decades
  91. 91Silvio Valenti GonzagaSilvio Valenti Gonzaga1690–1756 · Religious Figures13 decades
  92. 92Michael Francis EganMichael Francis Egan1761–1814 · 🇺🇸 United States · Religious Figuresnot measured—
  93. 93Josaphat BulhakJosaphat Bulhak1758–1838 · Religious Figuresnot measured—
  94. 94Thomas Philip Wallrad d'Alsace-Boussut de ChimayThomas Philip Wallrad d'Alsace-Boussut de Chimay1679–1759 · Religious Figuresnot measured—
  95. 95Carlo ColonnaCarlo Colonna1665–1739 · Religious Figuresnot measured—
  96. 96Ignatius of SanthiàIgnatius of Santhià1686–1770 · Religious Figuresnot measured—
  97. 97Joseph Franz AuerspergJoseph Franz Auersperg1734–1795 · Religious Figuresnot measured—
  98. 98Natalis PinotNatalis Pinot1747–1794 · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figuresnot measured—
  99. 99Giovanni Carlo BandiGiovanni Carlo Bandi1709–1784 · Religious Figuresnot measured—
  100. 100Sigismund von KollonitzSigismund von Kollonitz1676–1751 · 🇦🇹 Austria · Religious Figures0 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.