1800–1899
The 19th century
Whose names filled the books of the 19th century — 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 German books during the 19th century — whenever they lived.
In books written inEnglish18,114German3,599French3,347Italian1,787Spanish1,162Russian325Hebrew105Chinese9
#PersonIn print, 1800–2019Per million words
- 1
Frederick William, Prince of Hohenzollern-Hechingen1663–1735 · 17th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures8.4 - 2
Frederick William, Margrave of Brandenburg-Schwedt1700–1771 · 18th century · 🇩🇪 Germany8.4 - 3
Frederick William, Elector of Brandenburg1620–1688 · 17th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures8.4 - 4
Frederick William of Saxe-Meiningen1679–1746 · 18th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures8.4
- 5
Friedrich II, Grand Duke of Baden1857–1928 · 19th century · Historical Figures4.0 - 6
Maria Theresa1717–1780 · 18th century · 🇦🇹 Austria · Historical Figures3.8 - 7
Frederick II, Landgrave of Hesse-Homburg1633–1708 · 17th century · 🇩🇪 Germany3.8 - 8
Frederick II, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg1676–1732 · 18th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Politicians3.8 - 9
Frederick II, Elector Palatine1482–1556 · 16th century3.8 - 10
Frederick II, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg1418–1478 · 15th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures3.8 - 11
Frederick II of Legnica1480–1547 · 16th century3.8 - 12
John Frederick, Count Palatine of Sulzbach-Hilpoltstein1587–1644 · 17th century · 🇩🇪 Germany2.9 - 13
John Frederick, Duke of Pomerania1542–1600 · 16th century · Religious Figures2.9
- 14
John Frederick, Margrave of Brandenburg-Ansbach1654–1686 · 17th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Models2.9 - 15
John Frederick, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg1625–1679 · 17th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures2.9 - 16
John Frederick, Prince of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt1721–1767 · 18th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures2.9
- 17
John Frederick, Duke of Württemberg1582–1628 · 17th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures2.9 - 18
John George, Elector of Brandenburg1525–1598 · 16th century · Religious Figures2.7
- 19
Johann Georg, Duke of Saxe-Weissenfels1677–1712 · 18th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures2.7 - 20HIHenry IV, Duke of Brunswick-Grubenhagen1460–1526 · 15th century · Historical Figures2.5
- 21
Henry IV, Duke of Mecklenburg1417–1477 · 15th century · 🇩🇪 Germany2.5 - 22HIHenry IV, Count of Holstein-Rendsburg1397–1427 · 15th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures2.5
- 23
Franz I, Prince of Liechtenstein1853–1938 · 19th century · 🇦🇹 Austria · Politicians1.9 - 24
Jean Paul1763–1825 · 18th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writers1.8 - 25
Frederick Augustus, Duke of Württemberg-Neuenstadt1654–1716 · 17th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures1.8 - 26
Frederick Augustus, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst1734–1793 · 18th century · Historical Figures1.8 - 27
Frederick Augustus, Prince of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel-Oels1740–1805 · 18th century · 🇩🇪 Germany1.8 - 28
Frederick August I, Duke of Oldenburg1711–1785 · 18th century · Models1.8 - 29
Duke Friedrich I, Duke of Anhalt1831–1904 · 19th century · Historical Figures1.7 - 30
Friedrich I, Grand Duke of Baden1826–1907 · 19th century · Historical Figures1.7
- 31
Henry V, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg1489–1568 · 16th century · 🇩🇪 Germany1.6 - 32
Henry II, Duke of Bavaria951–995 · 10th century · 🇩🇪 Germany1.6 - 33HIHenry II of Augsburg1001–1063 · 11th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Religious Figures1.6
- 34HIHenry II, Count of Gorizia1150–1150 · 12th century · 🇩🇪 Germany1.6
- 35
Henry II, Count of Reuss-Gera1572–1635 · 17th century · 🇩🇪 Germany1.6 - 36HIHenry II, Lord of Mecklenburg1262–1329 · 13th century · Historical Figures1.6
- 37HIHenry II, Margrave of Meissen1103–1123 · 12th century · Models1.6
- 38HIHenry II, Duke of Limburg1110–1167 · 12th century · Historical Figures1.6
- 39
Henry II, Landgrave of Hesse1299–1376 · 14th century · 🇩🇪 Germany1.6 - 40
Frederick I, Count Palatine of Simmern1417–1480 · 15th century · 🇩🇪 Germany1.5 - 41
Frederick I1425–1476 · 15th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Politicians1.5 - 42
Frederick I of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg1646–1691 · 17th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures1.5 - 43
Frederick I of Prussia1657–1713 · 17th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Politicians1.5 - 44
Frederick I, Landgrave of Hesse-Homburg1585–1638 · 17th century · 🇩🇪 Germany1.5 - 45
Frederick I of Liegnitz1446–1488 · 15th century · 🇩🇪 Germany1.5
- 46
Frederick I, Elector of Brandenburg1371–1440 · 15th century1.5 - 47
Frederick I, Duke of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel1357–1400 · 14th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures1.5 - 48
Frederick III, German Emperor1831–1888 · 19th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Politicians1.5 - 49
Frederick Augustus II, Grand Duke of Oldenburg1852–1931 · 19th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures1.5 - 50HIHenry III, Duke of Brunswick-Grubenhagen1416–1464 · 15th century1.4
- 51
Henry III1215–1288 · 13th century · Writers1.4 - 52HIHenry III, Duke of Mecklenburg1337–1383 · 14th century · 🇩🇪 Germany1.4
- 53
Henry III, Count of Sayn1193–1247 · 13th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures1.4 - 54
Henry III, Duke of Limburg1167–1221 · 13th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures1.4 - 55HIHenry III, Prince of Anhalt-Aschersleben1300–1307 · 14th century · Religious Figures1.4
- 56
Henry III, Landgrave of Upper Hesse1440–1483 · 15th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Models1.4 - 57
Henry III of Nassau-Breda1483–1538 · 16th century · 🇩🇪 Germany1.4 - 58HIHenry III, Duke of Bavaria940–989 · 10th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures1.4
- 59WIWilliam III, Count of Weimar1000–1039 · 11th century · 🇩🇪 Germany1.4
- 60
William III1425–1482 · 15th century · 🇩🇪 Germany1.4 - 61
William III, Landgrave of Hesse1471–1500 · 16th century · 🇩🇪 Germany1.4 - 62
Paracelsus1493–1541 · 16th century · 🇨🇭 Switzerland · Doctors1.4 - 63
Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor1741–1790 · 18th century · 🇦🇹 Austria · Historical Figures1.3 - 64
Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor1316–1378 · 14th century · Historical Figures1.3 - 65
Frederick III of Legnica1520–1570 · 16th century · 🇩🇪 Germany1.3 - 66
Frederick III of the Palatinate1515–1576 · 16th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Models1.3 - 67
Frederick III, Prince of Salm-Kyrburg1744–1794 · 18th century · 🇩🇪 Germany1.3 - 68
Frederick III, Landgrave of Hesse-Homburg1673–1746 · 18th century · Politicians1.3 - 69
Frederick III, Margrave of Baden1327–1353 · 14th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Models1.3 - 70
Frederick III, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorp1597–1659 · 17th century · Historical Figures1.3 - 71
Friedrich III, Margrave of Brandenburg-Bayreuth1711–1763 · 18th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Models1.3 - 72
Frederick III, Burgrave of Nuremberg1220–1297 · 13th century · 🇩🇪 Germany1.3 - 73
Frederick III, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg1699–1772 · 18th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures1.3
- 74
Gustav Adolph, Duke of Mecklenburg-Güstrow1633–1695 · 17th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writers1.2 - 75
Philip II, Margrave of Baden-Baden1559–1588 · 16th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Models1.2 - 76PIPhilip II, Count of Waldeck1453–1524 · 15th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures1.2
- 77
Philip II, Count of Schaumburg-Lippe1723–1787 · 18th century · Historical Figures1.2 - 78
Philip II, Duke of Pomerania1573–1618 · 17th century · Historical Figures1.2
- 79PIPhilip II, Count of Hanau-Münzenberg1501–1529 · 16th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures1.2
- 80PIPhilip II, Duke of Brunswick-Grubenhagen1533–1596 · 16th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures1.2
- 81PIPhilip II, Count of Hanau-Lichtenberg1462–1504 · 15th century · 🇩🇪 Germany1.2
- 82
William the Silent1533–1584 · 16th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Politicians1.1 - 83
William I, German Emperor1797–1888 · 19th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures1.1
- 84
William I1343–1407 · 14th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures1.1 - 85
William I, Elector of Hesse1743–1821 · 18th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures1.1 - 86WIWilliam I of Weimar900–963 · 10th century · 🇩🇪 Germany1.1
- 87
William, Landgrave of Hesse-Rotenburg1648–1725 · 17th century · 🇩🇪 Germany1.1 - 88
William I, Count of Nassau-Siegen1487–1559 · 16th century1.1 - 89
Wilhelm I of Württemberg1781–1864 · 19th century · Historical Figures1.1 - 90
William I, Duke of Bavaria1330–1389 · 14th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Politicians1.1 - 91
Carl Friedrich I, Grand Duke of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach1783–1853 · 19th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures1.0 - 92
Karl Frederick, Prince of Anhalt-Bernburg1668–1721 · 18th century · Historical Figures1.0 - 93
Charles Frederick, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen1712–1743 · 18th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures1.0
- 94
Ferdinand I of Romania1865–1927 · 20th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures1.0 - 95
Ferdinand II of Portugal1816–1885 · 19th century · 🇦🇹 Austria · Historical Figures1.0 - 96
Ferdinand II, Holy Roman Emperor1578–1637 · 17th century · 🇦🇹 Austria · Historical Figures1.0 - 97
Ferdinand II, Archduke of Austria1529–1595 · 16th century · 🇦🇹 Austria · Historical Figures1.0 - 98
Hans Sachs1494–1576 · 16th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writers0.99 - 99
Wilhelm II, German Emperor1859–1941 · 19th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures0.99 - 100
Wilhelm II of Württemberg1848–1921 · 19th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures0.95
Lived then
The most notable people whose working lives fell in the 19th century, ranked where Wikipedia coverage and readership agree.
#PersonIn print, 1800–2019Echoed
- 1
Henry Ford1863–1947 · 🇺🇸 United States · Founders16 decades - 2
John D. Rockefeller1839–1937 · 🇺🇸 United States · Founders14 decades - 3
Henry Dunant1828–1910 · 🇨🇭 Switzerland · Founders13 decades - 4
J. P. Morgan1837–1913 · 🇺🇸 United States · Founders16 decades - 5
John Brown1800–1859 · 🇺🇸 United States · Founders22 decades - 6
Levi Strauss1829–1902 · 🇺🇸 United States · Founders11 decades - 7
Robert Owen1771–1858 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Founders22 decades - 8
Cornelius Vanderbilt1794–1877 · 🇺🇸 United States · Founders18 decades - 9
Jamsetji Tata1839–1904 · 🇮🇳 India · Founders0 decades - 10
J. Bruce Ismay1862–1937 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Founders1 decades - 11
King C. Gillette1855–1932 · 🇺🇸 United States · Founders0 decades - 12
Henri Nestlé1814–1890 · 🇨🇭 Switzerland · Founders0 decades - 13
Iwasaki Yatarō1835–1885 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Founders0 decades - 14
Thomas Cook1808–1892 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Founders22 decades - 15
Elisha Otis1811–1861 · 🇺🇸 United States · Founders0 decades - 16
James Buchanan Duke1856–1925 · 🇺🇸 United States · Founders0 decades - 17
Pavel Tretyakov1832–1898 · Founders9 decades - 18
Henry J. Heinz1844–1919 · 🇺🇸 United States · Founders0 decades - 19
Paul Reuter1816–1899 · Founders0 decades - 20
Adam Opel1837–1895 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Founders12 decades - 21
Johns Hopkins1795–1873 · 🇺🇸 United States · Founders21 decades - 22FYFusajirō Yamauchi1859–1940 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Foundersnot measured—
- 23
Jay Gould1836–1892 · 🇺🇸 United States · Founders17 decades - 24
Jean Lafitte1776–1826 · 🇺🇸 United States · Founders12 decades
- 25
William Crapo Durant1861–1947 · 🇺🇸 United States · Founders0 decades - 26
Solomon R. Guggenheim1861–1948 · 🇺🇸 United States · Founders8 decades - 27
Milton S. Hershey1857–1945 · 🇺🇸 United States · Founders6 decades - 28
Émile Gallé1846–1904 · 🇫🇷 France · Founders7 decades - 29
Cäsar Johann Ritz1850–1918 · 🇨🇭 Switzerland · Founders2 decades - 30
Charles Boycott1832–1897 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Founders0 decades - 31
Alfred Krupp1812–1887 · Founders15 decades - 32
Shibusawa Eiichi1840–1931 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Foundersnot measured— - 33
Margarete Steiff1847–1909 · Foundersnot measured— - 34
Basil Zaharoff1849–1936 · 🇫🇷 France · Founders7 decades - 35
Emil Jellinek1853–1918 · Founders1 decades - 36
Will Keith Kellogg1860–1951 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured— - 37
George Peabody1795–1869 · 🇺🇸 United States · Founders19 decades - 38
Eusebio Güell1846–1918 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Foundersnot measured— - 39
Ransom E. Olds1864–1950 · 🇺🇸 United States · Founders0 decades - 40
Henry Clay Frick1849–1919 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured— - 41
Torakusu Yamaha1851–1916 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Founders0 decades - 42
Marcus Goldman1821–1904 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured— - 43
Armand Peugeot1849–1915 · 🇫🇷 France · Foundersnot measured— - 44
Michael Thonet1796–1871 · Founders0 decades - 45
Maurice de Hirsch1831–1896 · 🇫🇷 France · Founders3 decades - 46
William Henry Vanderbilt1821–1885 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured— - 47
Emil Škoda1839–1900 · Founders0 decades - 48
August Oetker1862–1918 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Foundersnot measured— - 49
Savva Mamontov1841–1918 · Foundersnot measured— - 50
Harry Gordon Selfridge1858–1947 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured— - 51
Peter Cooper1791–1883 · 🇺🇸 United States · Founders20 decades - 52
Madame Clicquot Ponsardin1777–1866 · 🇫🇷 France · Foundersnot measured— - 53
Mikimoto Kōkichi1858–1954 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Foundersnot measured— - 54
Henry E. Steinway1797–1871 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Foundersnot measured— - 55
Friedrich Krupp1787–1826 · Foundersnot measured— - 56
Friedrich Alfred Krupp1854–1902 · Foundersnot measured— - 57
Fredrik Idestam1838–1916 · Foundersnot measured— - 58
Charles Yerkes1837–1905 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured— - 59
Antoine Patek1812–1877 · 🇨🇭 Switzerland · Foundersnot measured— - 60
Samuel P. Bush1863–1948 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured— - 61
John Philip Holland1840–1914 · Foundersnot measured— - 62
Cyrus West Field1819–1892 · 🇺🇸 United States · Founders0 decades - 63
Lucas Alamán1792–1853 · 🇲🇽 Mexico · Foundersnot measured— - 64
Dwarkanath Tagore1794–1846 · Foundersnot measured— - 65
Samuel Cunard1787–1865 · Foundersnot measured— - 66
Julius Maggi1846–1912 · 🇨🇭 Switzerland · Foundersnot measured— - 67
Albert Ballin1857–1918 · Foundersnot measured— - 68
John Francis Dodge1864–1920 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured— - 69
David Sassoon1792–1864 · Foundersnot measured— - 70
Henry Cole1808–1882 · Foundersnot measured— - 71
Friedrich Bayer1825–1880 · Foundersnot measured— - 72
Robert Nobel1829–1896 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Foundersnot measured— - 73
William Pirrie, 1st Viscount Pirrie1847–1924 · Foundersnot measured— - 74
Sergei Shchukin1854–1936 · Foundersnot measured— - 75
Daniel Peter1836–1919 · 🇨🇭 Switzerland · Foundersnot measured— - 76
Georgios Averoff1815–1899 · Founders0 decades - 77
Rodolphe Lindt1855–1909 · 🇨🇭 Switzerland · Foundersnot measured— - 78
Haji Zeynal Abdin Taghiyev1838–1924 · Foundersnot measured— - 79
William Wrigley1861–1932 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured— - 80
Paul Mauser1838–1914 · Foundersnot measured— - 81
Samuel Insull1859–1938 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Foundersnot measured— - 82
Emil Rathenau1838–1915 · Foundersnot measured— - 83
J. C. Jacobsen1811–1887 · Foundersnot measured— - 84
Julius Rosenwald1862–1932 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured— - 85
Karl Wittgenstein1847–1913 · Foundersnot measured— - 86
Joseph Aspdin1778–1855 · Founders1 decades - 87
Charles Lewis Tiffany1812–1902 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured— - 88
Eliphalet Remington1793–1861 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured— - 89
William Colgate1783–1857 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured— - 90
Savva Timofeyevich Morozov1862–1905 · Foundersnot measured— - 91
Charles Francis Brush1849–1929 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured— - 92
August Borsig1804–1854 · Foundersnot measured— - 93
Gerard Adriaan Heineken1841–1893 · 🇳🇱 Netherlands · Foundersnot measured— - 94
Johann Georg Halske1814–1890 · Foundersnot measured— - 95
Sir Henry Tate1819–1899 · Foundersnot measured— - 96
François Hennebique1842–1921 · 🇫🇷 France · Foundersnot measured— - 97
Thomas Burberry1835–1926 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Foundersnot measured— - 98
John Cadbury1801–1889 · Foundersnot measured— - 99
William Fargo1818–1881 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured— - 100
John Cockerill1790–1840 · Foundersnot 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.