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 Chinese books during the 19th century — whenever they lived.

In books written inEnglish18,114German3,599French3,347Italian1,787Spanish1,162Russian325Hebrew105Chinese9
  1. 1Zhu XiZhu Xi1130–1200 · 12th century · 🇨🇳 China · Writers870
  2. 2Li HongzhangLi Hongzhang1823–1901 · 19th century · 🇨🇳 China · Politicians149
  3. 3Zhang ZhidongZhang Zhidong1837–1909 · 19th century · Politicians86
  4. 4Zuo ZongtangZuo Zongtang1812–1885 · 19th century · 🇨🇳 China · Politicians43
  5. 5Ban GuBan Gu32–92 · 1st century · Writers40
  6. 6Ge HongGe Hong284–364 · 4th century · Academics40
  7. 7CSChen Shou233–297 · 3rd century · Writers14
  8. 8Mao ZedongMao Zedong1893–1976 · 20th century · 🇨🇳 China · Politicians12
  9. 9Lu XunLu Xun1881–1936 · 20th century · 🇨🇳 China · Writers11

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. 1Max PlanckMax Planck1858–1947 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientists14 decades
  2. 2Wilhelm RöntgenWilhelm Röntgen1845–1923 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientists11 decades
  3. 3Karl BenzKarl Benz1844–1929 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientists11 decades
  4. 4Ernst HaeckelErnst Haeckel1834–1919 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientists16 decades
  5. 5Justus von LiebigJustus von Liebig1803–1873 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientists17 decades
  6. 6Georg OhmGeorg Ohm1789–1854 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientists12 decades
  7. 7Hermann von HelmholtzHermann von Helmholtz1821–1894 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientists14 decades
  8. 8Gottlieb DaimlerGottlieb Daimler1834–1900 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientists11 decades
  9. 9Otto LilienthalOtto Lilienthal1848–1896 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientists13 decades
  10. 10Werner von SiemensWerner von Siemens1816–1892 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientists13 decades
  11. 11Philipp LenardPhilipp Lenard1862–1947 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientists11 decades
  12. 12Carl ZeissCarl Zeiss1816–1888 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientists13 decades
  13. 13Ferdinand von ZeppelinFerdinand von Zeppelin1838–1917 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientists5 decades
  14. 14Robert BoschRobert Bosch1861–1942 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientists13 decades
  15. 15Nikolaus OttoNikolaus Otto1832–1891 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientists0 decades
  16. 16August KekuléAugust Kekulé1829–1896 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientists4 decades
  17. 17Robert BunsenRobert Bunsen1811–1899 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientists9 decades
  18. 18Joseph von FraunhoferJoseph von Fraunhofer1787–1826 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientists4 decades
  19. 19Wilhelm MaybachWilhelm Maybach1846–1929 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientists8 decades
  20. 20Karl DraisKarl Drais1785–1851 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientists0 decades
  21. 21Hugo JunkersHugo Junkers1859–1935 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientists11 decades
  22. 22Wilhelm OstwaldWilhelm Ostwald1853–1932 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientists13 decades
  23. 23Philipp Franz von SieboldPhilipp Franz von Siebold1796–1866 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientists6 decades
  24. 24Friedrich WöhlerFriedrich Wöhler1800–1882 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientists17 decades
  25. 25Ernst AbbeErnst Abbe1840–1905 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientists12 decades
  26. 26Adolf von BaeyerAdolf von Baeyer1835–1917 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientists12 decades
  27. 27Emil FischerEmil Fischer1852–1919 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientists15 decades
  28. 28Karl Ferdinand BraunKarl Ferdinand Braun1850–1918 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientists12 decades
  29. 29Friedrich BesselFriedrich Bessel1784–1846 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientists8 decades
  30. 30Wilhelm Eduard WeberWilhelm Eduard Weber1804–1891 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientists2 decades
  31. 31Carl von LindeCarl von Linde1842–1934 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientists7 decades
  32. 32Johann Gottfried GalleJohann Gottfried Galle1812–1910 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientists0 decades
  33. 33Wilhelm WienWilhelm Wien1864–1928 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientists9 decades
  34. 34Friedrich SertürnerFriedrich Sertürner1783–1841 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientists0 decades
  35. 35Julius von MayerJulius von Mayer1814–1878 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientists15 decades
  36. 36Eduard BuchnerEduard Buchner1860–1917 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientists4 decades
  37. 37Eduard StrasburgerEduard Strasburger1844–1912 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientists5 decades
  38. 38Julius Richard PetriJulius Richard Petri1852–1921 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientistsnot measured—
  39. 39Albrecht KosselAlbrecht Kossel1853–1927 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientists0 decades
  40. 40Max WolfMax Wolf1863–1932 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientists14 decades
  41. 41Otto WallachOtto Wallach1847–1931 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientists4 decades
  42. 42EGEugen Goldstein1850–1930 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientists1 decades
  43. 43Otto SchottOtto Schott1851–1935 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientists14 decades
  44. 44Hermann SchlegelHermann Schlegel1804–1884 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientists1 decades
  45. 45Adolf EnglerAdolf Engler1844–1930 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientists7 decades
  46. 46Max SkladanowskyMax Skladanowsky1863–1939 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientists3 decades
  47. 47Princess Theresa of BavariaPrincess Theresa of Bavaria1850–1925 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientistsnot measured—
  48. 48Carl CorrensCarl Correns1864–1933 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientists4 decades
  49. 49Julius von PayerJulius von Payer1841–1915 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientists2 decades
  50. 50Albrecht PenckAlbrecht Penck1858–1945 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientists14 decades
  51. 51Agnes PockelsAgnes Pockels1862–1935 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientists0 decades
  52. 52Otto WarburgOtto Warburg1859–1938 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientists12 decades
  53. 53Emil WarburgEmil Warburg1846–1931 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientistsnot measured—
  54. 54Georg Friedrich von ReichenbachGeorg Friedrich von Reichenbach1771–1826 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientistsnot measured—
  55. 55Arthur SchusterArthur Schuster1851–1934 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientistsnot measured—
  56. 56Hans MeyerHans Meyer1858–1929 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientistsnot measured—
  57. 57Friedrich KohlrauschFriedrich Kohlrausch1840–1910 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientists14 decades
  58. 58Carl DuisbergCarl Duisberg1861–1935 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientistsnot measured—
  59. 59Curt von FrançoisCurt von François1852–1931 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientistsnot measured—
  60. 60Franz Xaver GabelsbergerFranz Xaver Gabelsberger1789–1849 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientistsnot measured—
  61. 61Fanny HesseFanny Hesse1850–1934 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientistsnot measured—
  62. 62Franz von SoxhletFranz von Soxhlet1848–1926 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientistsnot measured—
  63. 63LSLouis Schmeisser1848–1917 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientistsnot measured—
  64. 64Wilhelm RouxWilhelm Roux1850–1924 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientists14 decades
  65. 65Paul WaldenPaul Walden1863–1957 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientists3 decades
  66. 66Richard PfeifferRichard Pfeiffer1858–1945 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientistsnot measured—
  67. 67Wilhelm Julius FoersterWilhelm Julius Foerster1832–1921 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientists13 decades
  68. 68Hugo BorchardtHugo Borchardt1844–1924 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientistsnot measured—
  69. 69Hugo von SeeligerHugo von Seeliger1849–1924 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientistsnot measured—
  70. 70August ToeplerAugust Toepler1836–1912 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientistsnot measured—
  71. 71Ulrich Jasper SeetzenUlrich Jasper Seetzen1767–1811 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientistsnot measured—
  72. 72Richard MollierRichard Mollier1863–1935 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientistsnot measured—
  73. 73Otto LehmannOtto Lehmann1855–1922 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientistsnot measured—
  74. 74Andreas Franz Wilhelm SchimperAndreas Franz Wilhelm Schimper1856–1901 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientistsnot measured—
  75. 75Theodor CurtiusTheodor Curtius1857–1928 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientists4 decades
  76. 76Ludwig KnorrLudwig Knorr1859–1921 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientistsnot measured—
  77. 77Oswald SchmiedebergOswald Schmiedeberg1838–1921 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientistsnot measured—
  78. 78Adolf MartensAdolf Martens1850–1914 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientistsnot measured—
  79. 79Ernst Georg RavensteinErnst Georg Ravenstein1834–1913 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientistsnot measured—
  80. 80Wilhelm MauserWilhelm Mauser1834–1882 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientistsnot measured—
  81. 81Theodor WolfTheodor Wolf1841–1924 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientistsnot measured—
  82. 82Otto BütschliOtto Bütschli1848–1920 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientistsnot measured—
  83. 83Ernst Otto BeckmannErnst Otto Beckmann1853–1923 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientists0 decades
  84. 84Arthur Rudolf HantzschArthur Rudolf Hantzsch1857–1935 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientistsnot measured—
  85. 85Rainer Ludwig ClaisenRainer Ludwig Claisen1851–1930 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientistsnot measured—
  86. 86Karl Alfred von ZittelKarl Alfred von Zittel1839–1904 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientists0 decades
  87. 87Heinrich EhrhardtHeinrich Ehrhardt1840–1928 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientistsnot measured—
  88. 88Wilhelm HallwachsWilhelm Hallwachs1859–1922 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientistsnot measured—
  89. 89Adolf von SchlagintweitAdolf von Schlagintweit1829–1857 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientistsnot measured—
  90. 90Carl GräbeCarl Gräbe1841–1927 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientistsnot measured—
  91. 91Hermann von BarthHermann von Barth1845–1876 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientistsnot measured—
  92. 92Paul Gerson UnnaPaul Gerson Unna1850–1929 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientistsnot measured—
  93. 93Carl SchorlemmerCarl Schorlemmer1834–1892 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientistsnot measured—
  94. 94Hans Heinrich LandoltHans Heinrich Landolt1831–1910 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientistsnot measured—
  95. 95Julius NeubronnerJulius Neubronner1852–1932 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientistsnot measured—
  96. 96Otto LummerOtto Lummer1860–1925 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientistsnot measured—
  97. 97August RitterAugust Ritter1826–1908 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientistsnot measured—
  98. 98Karl Everhard GoebelKarl Everhard Goebel1855–1932 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientistsnot measured—
  99. 99Karl Moritz SchumannKarl Moritz Schumann1851–1904 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientistsnot measured—
  100. 100Georg KnorrGeorg Knorr1859–1911 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientistsnot 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.