Claim profile
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 Italian books during the 19th century — whenever they lived.

In books written inEnglish18,114German3,599French3,347Italian1,787Spanish1,162Russian325Hebrew105Chinese9
  1. 1GiottoGiotto1267–1337 · 14th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists5.5
  2. 2Antonio da CorreggioAntonio da Correggio1489–1534 · 16th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists5.0
  3. 3Lorenzo de' MediciLorenzo de' Medici1449–1492 · 15th century · Politicians3.0
  4. 4Dante AlighieriDante Alighieri1265–1321 · 14th century · Writers2.9
  5. 5Pietro PeruginoPietro Perugino1448–1523 · 15th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists2.9
  6. 6Donato BramanteDonato Bramante1444–1514 · 15th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Architects2.6
  7. 7Torquato TassoTorquato Tasso1544–1595 · 16th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers2.6
  8. 8CaravaggioCaravaggio1571–1610 · 17th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists2.1
  9. 9Apostolo ZenoApostolo Zeno1668–1750 · 18th century · Writers2.1
  10. 10CimabueCimabue1240–1302 · 13th century · Artists2.1
  11. 11TintorettoTintoretto1519–1594 · 16th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists1.9
  12. 12Charles BorromeoCharles Borromeo1538–1584 · 16th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Religious Figures1.8
  13. 13DonatelloDonatello1386–1466 · 15th century · Artists1.8
  14. 14Paul the DeaconPaul the Deacon720–799 · 8th century · Writers1.8
  15. 15Leonardo da VinciLeonardo da Vinci1452–1519 · 15th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists1.7
  16. 16Philip NeriPhilip Neri1515–1595 · 16th century · Religious Figures1.7
  17. 17Marco PoloMarco Polo1254–1324 · 13th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Politicians1.7
  18. 18Cosimo de' MediciCosimo de' Medici1389–1464 · 15th century · Politicians1.7
  19. 19Galileo GalileiGalileo Galilei1564–1642 · 16th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Scientists1.7
  20. 20Andrea DoriaAndrea Doria1466–1560 · 16th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Politicians1.6
  21. 21Giulio RomanoGiulio Romano1499–1546 · 16th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists1.6
  22. 22GuercinoGuercino1591–1666 · 17th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists1.5
  23. 23DomenichinoDomenichino1581–1641 · 17th century · Artists1.5
  24. 24Ugo FoscoloUgo Foscolo1778–1827 · 19th century · Writers1.4
  25. 25PetrarchPetrarch1304–1374 · 14th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Academics1.4
  26. 26Andrea del SartoAndrea del Sarto1486–1530 · 16th century · Artists1.2
  27. 27Pietro AretinoPietro Aretino1492–1556 · 16th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers1.2
  28. 28Alessandro ManzoniAlessandro Manzoni1785–1873 · 19th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers1.2
  29. 29Giorgio VasariGiorgio Vasari1511–1574 · 16th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists1.2
  30. 30MasaccioMasaccio1401–1428 · 15th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists1.1
  31. 31Baldassare FranceschiniBaldassare Franceschini1611–1690 · 17th century · Artists1.1
  32. 32Francis of AssisiFrancis of Assisi1182–1226 · 13th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers1.1
  33. 33Cesare BorgiaCesare Borgia1475–1507 · 16th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Historical Figures1.1
  34. 34Paolo VeronesePaolo Veronese1528–1588 · 16th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists1.1
  35. 35Guido ReniGuido Reni1575–1642 · 17th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists1.0
  36. 36Dino CompagniDino Compagni1255–1324 · 13th century · Writers1.0
  37. 37Pietro BemboPietro Bembo1470–1547 · 16th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Religious Figures1.00
  38. 38Guido CavalcantiGuido Cavalcanti1258–1300 · 13th century · Writers0.99
  39. 39Niccolò MachiavelliNiccolò Machiavelli1469–1527 · 16th century · Politicians0.99
  40. 40Filippo Maria ViscontiFilippo Maria Visconti1392–1447 · 15th century · Politicians0.97
  41. 41Cesare BalboCesare Balbo1789–1853 · 19th century · Politicians0.97
  42. 42Giuseppe MazziniGiuseppe Mazzini1805–1872 · 19th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Activists0.93
  43. 43Prospero ColonnaProspero Colonna1452–1523 · 15th century0.90
  44. 44Benvenuto CelliniBenvenuto Cellini1500–1571 · 16th century · Artists0.90
  45. 45Benedetto VarchiBenedetto Varchi1503–1565 · 16th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers0.88
  46. 46Francesco GuicciardiniFrancesco Guicciardini1483–1540 · 16th century · Writers0.88
  47. 47Aloysius GonzagaAloysius Gonzaga1568–1591 · 16th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Religious Figures0.88
  48. 48Vittorio AlfieriVittorio Alfieri1749–1803 · 18th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Historical Figures0.87
  49. 49Silvio PellicoSilvio Pellico1789–1854 · 19th century · Writers0.87
  50. 50Cesare CantùCesare Cantù1804–1895 · 19th century · Writers0.87
  51. 51Giacomo LeopardiGiacomo Leopardi1798–1837 · 19th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers0.85
  52. 52Vincenzo GiobertiVincenzo Gioberti1801–1852 · 19th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Academics0.85
  53. 53Giovanni BoccaccioGiovanni Boccaccio1313–1375 · 14th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers0.85
  54. 54Francesco RediFrancesco Redi1626–1697 · 17th century · Doctors0.85
  55. 55Francesco GonzagaFrancesco Gonzaga1444–1483 · 15th century0.84
  56. 56Franco SacchettiFranco Sacchetti1332–1400 · 14th century · Writers0.82
  57. 57Teodato IpatoTeodato Ipato750–800 · 8th century · Politicians0.80
  58. 58Salvator RosaSalvator Rosa1615–1673 · 17th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists0.76
  59. 59Giordano BrunoGiordano Bruno1548–1600 · 16th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Academics0.75
  60. 60Girolamo SavonarolaGirolamo Savonarola1452–1498 · 15th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Politicians0.74
  61. 61Domenico PassignanoDomenico Passignano1559–1638 · 16th century · Artists0.74
  62. 62Paolo SarpiPaolo Sarpi1552–1623 · 16th century · Academics0.73
  63. 63ParmigianinoParmigianino1503–1540 · 16th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists0.72
  64. 64Paolo GiovioPaolo Giovio1483–1552 · 16th century · Writers0.71
  65. 65Massimo d'AzeglioMassimo d'Azeglio1798–1866 · 19th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Politicians0.71
  66. 66Aldus ManutiusAldus Manutius1449–1515 · 15th century · 🇮🇹 Italy0.71
  67. 67AMAldus Manutius the Younger1547–1597 · 16th century0.71
  68. 68Bernardo TassoBernardo Tasso1493–1569 · 16th century · Writers0.71
  69. 69Lucrezia BorgiaLucrezia Borgia1480–1519 · 16th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Historical Figures0.69
  70. 70Pietro da CortonaPietro da Cortona1596–1669 · 17th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists0.69
  71. 71MVMatteo Villani1283–1363 · 14th century · Writers0.68
  72. 72Francesco Scipione, marchese di MaffeiFrancesco Scipione, marchese di Maffei1675–1755 · 18th century · Writers0.66
  73. 73Luigi AlamanniLuigi Alamanni1495–1556 · 16th century · Writers0.65
  74. 74Vittoria ColonnaVittoria Colonna1492–1547 · 16th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers0.64
  75. 75Pietro VerriPietro Verri1728–1797 · 18th century · Academics0.64
  76. 76PinturicchioPinturicchio1454–1513 · 15th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists0.64
  77. 77Giuliano de' MediciGiuliano de' Medici1453–1478 · 15th century · Politicians0.62
  78. 78Marsilio FicinoMarsilio Ficino1433–1499 · 15th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Academics0.62
  79. 79Filippo VillaniFilippo Villani1325–1407 · 14th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers0.62
  80. 80Paulus ManutiusPaulus Manutius1512–1574 · 16th century · Writers0.61
  81. 81Catherine de' MediciCatherine de' Medici1519–1589 · 16th century · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures0.60
  82. 82Scipione AmmiratoScipione Ammirato1531–1601 · 16th century · Writers0.58
  83. 83Bernardino of SienaBernardino of Siena1380–1444 · 15th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Academics0.58
  84. 84Francesco FilelfoFrancesco Filelfo1398–1481 · 15th century · Academics0.56
  85. 85Andrea GrittiAndrea Gritti1455–1538 · 15th century · Politicians0.56
  86. 86PontormoPontormo1494–1556 · 16th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists0.52
  87. 87Antonio RosminiAntonio Rosmini1797–1855 · 19th century · Academics0.51
  88. 88Leon Battista AlbertiLeon Battista Alberti1404–1472 · 15th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Architects0.49
  89. 89Francesco FoscariFrancesco Foscari1373–1457 · 15th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Politicians0.47
  90. 90Giosuè CarducciGiosuè Carducci1835–1907 · 19th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers0.47
  91. 91Andrea DandoloAndrea Dandolo1306–1354 · 14th century · Politicians0.45
  92. 92Alessandro CagliostroAlessandro Cagliostro1743–1795 · 18th century · 🇫🇷 France · Doctors0.45
  93. 93Francesco VettoriFrancesco Vettori1474–1540 · 16th century · Writers0.45
  94. 94Leandro AlbertiLeandro Alberti1479–1552 · 16th century · Writers0.45
  95. 95Amerigo VespucciAmerigo Vespucci1454–1512 · 15th century · Historical Figures0.44
  96. 96Erasmo of NarniErasmo of Narni1370–1443 · 15th century · 🇮🇹 Italy0.44
  97. 97Anton Maria SalviniAnton Maria Salvini1653–1729 · 17th century · Writers0.43
  98. 98MichelangeloMichelangelo1475–1564 · 16th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists0.43
  99. 99Francesca da RiminiFrancesca da Rimini1259–1285 · 13th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers0.42
  100. 100Antonio CanovaAntonio Canova1757–1822 · 18th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists0.42

Lived then

The most notable people whose working lives fell in the 19th century, ranked where Wikipedia coverage and readership agree.

CountryAll🇺🇸 United States🇫🇷 France🇩🇪 Germany🇬🇧 United Kingdom🇮🇹 Italy🇪🇸 Spain🇯🇵 Japan🇦🇹 Austria🇹🇷 Turkey🇸🇪 Sweden
FieldAllPoliticiansWritersHistorical FiguresScientistsAcademicsArtistsMusiciansDoctorsFoundersJournalists
  1. 1Henry FordHenry Ford1863–1947 · 🇺🇸 United States · Founders16 decades
  2. 2John D. RockefellerJohn D. Rockefeller1839–1937 · 🇺🇸 United States · Founders14 decades
  3. 3J. P. MorganJ. P. Morgan1837–1913 · 🇺🇸 United States · Founders16 decades
  4. 4John BrownJohn Brown1800–1859 · 🇺🇸 United States · Founders22 decades
  5. 5Levi StraussLevi Strauss1829–1902 · 🇺🇸 United States · Founders11 decades
  6. 6Cornelius VanderbiltCornelius Vanderbilt1794–1877 · 🇺🇸 United States · Founders18 decades
  7. 7King C. GilletteKing C. Gillette1855–1932 · 🇺🇸 United States · Founders0 decades
  8. 8Elisha OtisElisha Otis1811–1861 · 🇺🇸 United States · Founders0 decades
  9. 9James Buchanan DukeJames Buchanan Duke1856–1925 · 🇺🇸 United States · Founders0 decades
  10. 10Henry J. HeinzHenry J. Heinz1844–1919 · 🇺🇸 United States · Founders0 decades
  11. 11Johns HopkinsJohns Hopkins1795–1873 · 🇺🇸 United States · Founders21 decades
  12. 12Jay GouldJay Gould1836–1892 · 🇺🇸 United States · Founders17 decades
  13. 13Jean LafitteJean Lafitte1776–1826 · 🇺🇸 United States · Founders12 decades
  14. 14William Crapo DurantWilliam Crapo Durant1861–1947 · 🇺🇸 United States · Founders0 decades
  15. 15Solomon R. GuggenheimSolomon R. Guggenheim1861–1948 · 🇺🇸 United States · Founders8 decades
  16. 16Milton S. HersheyMilton S. Hershey1857–1945 · 🇺🇸 United States · Founders6 decades
  17. 17Will Keith KelloggWill Keith Kellogg1860–1951 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured—
  18. 18George PeabodyGeorge Peabody1795–1869 · 🇺🇸 United States · Founders19 decades
  19. 19Ransom E. OldsRansom E. Olds1864–1950 · 🇺🇸 United States · Founders0 decades
  20. 20Henry Clay FrickHenry Clay Frick1849–1919 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured—
  21. 21Marcus GoldmanMarcus Goldman1821–1904 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured—
  22. 22William Henry VanderbiltWilliam Henry Vanderbilt1821–1885 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured—
  23. 23Harry Gordon SelfridgeHarry Gordon Selfridge1858–1947 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured—
  24. 24Peter CooperPeter Cooper1791–1883 · 🇺🇸 United States · Founders20 decades
  25. 25Charles YerkesCharles Yerkes1837–1905 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured—
  26. 26Samuel P. BushSamuel P. Bush1863–1948 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured—
  27. 27Cyrus West FieldCyrus West Field1819–1892 · 🇺🇸 United States · Founders0 decades
  28. 28John Francis DodgeJohn Francis Dodge1864–1920 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured—
  29. 29William WrigleyWilliam Wrigley1861–1932 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured—
  30. 30Julius RosenwaldJulius Rosenwald1862–1932 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured—
  31. 31Charles Lewis TiffanyCharles Lewis Tiffany1812–1902 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured—
  32. 32Eliphalet RemingtonEliphalet Remington1793–1861 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured—
  33. 33William ColgateWilliam Colgate1783–1857 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured—
  34. 34Charles Francis BrushCharles Francis Brush1849–1929 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured—
  35. 35William FargoWilliam Fargo1818–1881 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured—
  36. 36Samuel SlaterSamuel Slater1768–1835 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured—
  37. 37Mary Ellen PleasantMary Ellen Pleasant1814–1904 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured—
  38. 38James J. HillJames J. Hill1838–1916 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured—
  39. 39Leonard JeromeLeonard Jerome1817–1891 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured—
  40. 40Edward Henry HarrimanEdward Henry Harriman1848–1909 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured—
  41. 41James GambleJames Gamble1803–1891 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured—
  42. 42Theodore Roosevelt Sr.Theodore Roosevelt Sr.1831–1878 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured—
  43. 43Henry WellsHenry Wells1805–1878 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured—
  44. 44Daniel GuggenheimDaniel Guggenheim1856–1930 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured—
  45. 45George Dunton WidenerGeorge Dunton Widener1861–1912 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured—
  46. 46Marshall FieldMarshall Field1834–1906 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured—
  47. 47John Munro LongyearJohn Munro Longyear1850–1922 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured—
  48. 48Bertha PalmerBertha Palmer1849–1918 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured—
  49. 49Richard Warren SearsRichard Warren Sears1863–1914 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured—
  50. 50Joseph SeligmanJoseph Seligman1819–1880 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured—
  51. 51Frederic TudorFrederic Tudor1783–1864 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured—
  52. 52Cornelius Vanderbilt IICornelius Vanderbilt II1843–1899 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured—
  53. 53William D. BoyceWilliam D. Boyce1858–1929 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured—
  54. 54Henry E. HuntingtonHenry E. Huntington1850–1927 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured—
  55. 55Henry Huttleston RogersHenry Huttleston Rogers1840–1909 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured—
  56. 56William ProcterWilliam Procter1801–1884 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured—
  57. 57Philip Danforth ArmourPhilip Danforth Armour1832–1901 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured—
  58. 58Samuel Henry KressSamuel Henry Kress1863–1955 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured—
  59. 59William B. FranklinWilliam B. Franklin1823–1903 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured—
  60. 60William Rockefeller Sr.William Rockefeller Sr.1810–1906 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured—
  61. 61Gustavus Franklin SwiftGustavus Franklin Swift1839–1903 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured—
  62. 62Elwood HaynesElwood Haynes1857–1925 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured—
  63. 63Samuel SachsSamuel Sachs1851–1935 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured—
  64. 64William Cornelius Van HorneWilliam Cornelius Van Horne1843–1915 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured—
  65. 65Collis Potter HuntingtonCollis Potter Huntington1821–1900 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured—
  66. 66Matthias W. BaldwinMatthias W. Baldwin1795–1866 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured—
  67. 67Martha Matilda HarperMartha Matilda Harper1857–1950 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured—
  68. 68Charles Ranlett FlintCharles Ranlett Flint1850–1934 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured—
  69. 69James Ward PackardJames Ward Packard1863–1928 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured—
  70. 70Fredericka MandelbaumFredericka Mandelbaum1825–1894 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured—
  71. 71Adolphus Busch IAdolphus Busch I1839–1913 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured—
  72. 72Benjamin AltmanBenjamin Altman1840–1913 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured—
  73. 73R. J. ReynoldsR. J. Reynolds1850–1918 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured—
  74. 74Charles CrockerCharles Crocker1822–1888 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured—
  75. 75Frederick Stark PearsonFrederick Stark Pearson1861–1915 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured—
  76. 76John Murray ForbesJohn Murray Forbes1813–1898 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured—
  77. 77George Safford ParkerGeorge Safford Parker1863–1937 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured—
  78. 78Charles Williams NashCharles Williams Nash1864–1948 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured—
  79. 79William Backhouse Astor, Sr.William Backhouse Astor, Sr.1792–1875 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured—
  80. 80Robert S. BrookingsRobert S. Brookings1850–1932 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured—
  81. 81William Wirt WinchesterWilliam Wirt Winchester1837–1881 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured—
  82. 82Walter Donald DouglasWalter Donald Douglas1861–1912 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured—
  83. 83James FortenJames Forten1766–1842 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured—
  84. 84Minor Cooper KeithMinor Cooper Keith1848–1929 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured—
  85. 85Claus SpreckelsClaus Spreckels1828–1908 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured—
  86. 86Edward C. ClarkEdward C. Clark1811–1882 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured—
  87. 87Godfrey Lowell CabotGodfrey Lowell Cabot1861–1962 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured—
  88. 88Charles DeeringCharles Deering1852–1927 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured—
  89. 89Henry Osborne HavemeyerHenry Osborne Havemeyer1847–1907 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured—
  90. 90William Phelps EnoWilliam Phelps Eno1858–1945 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured—
  91. 91Louis BambergerLouis Bamberger1855–1944 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured—
  92. 92Charles T. HindeCharles T. Hinde1832–1915 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured—
  93. 93Rowland Hussey MacyRowland Hussey Macy1822–1877 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured—
  94. 94Bernard KrogerBernard Kroger1860–1938 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured—
  95. 95Alvah Curtis RoebuckAlvah Curtis Roebuck1864–1948 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured—
  96. 96Frederick MillerFrederick Miller1824–1888 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured—
  97. 97Peter DemensPeter Demens1849–1919 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured—
  98. 98George DaytonGeorge Dayton1857–1938 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured—
  99. 99Henry Varnum PoorHenry Varnum Poor1812–1905 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured—
  100. 100Benjamin Newton DukeBenjamin Newton Duke1855–1929 · 🇺🇸 United States · 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.