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. 1Giuseppe VerdiGiuseppe Verdi1813–1901 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musicians18 decades
  2. 2Pope Leo XIIIPope Leo XIII1810–1903 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Religious Figures15 decades
  3. 3Giacomo PucciniGiacomo Puccini1858–1924 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musicians15 decades
  4. 4Giacomo LeopardiGiacomo Leopardi1798–1837 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers22 decades
  5. 5Pope Pius XIPope Pius XI1857–1939 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Religious Figures10 decades
  6. 6Gabriele D'AnnunzioGabriele D'Annunzio1863–1938 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers14 decades
  7. 7Pope Pius IXPope Pius IX1792–1878 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Religious Figures18 decades
  8. 8Pope Pius XPope Pius X1835–1914 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Religious Figures12 decades
  9. 9Pope Benedict XVPope Benedict XV1854–1922 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Religious Figures11 decades
  10. 10Alessandro ManzoniAlessandro Manzoni1785–1873 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers22 decades
  11. 11Giosuè CarducciGiosuè Carducci1835–1907 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers17 decades
  12. 12Gioachino RossiniGioachino Rossini1792–1868 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musicians20 decades
  13. 13Victor Emmanuel II of ItalyVictor Emmanuel II of Italy1820–1878 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Historical Figures12 decades
  14. 14Giuseppe MazziniGiuseppe Mazzini1805–1872 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Activists20 decades
  15. 15Niccolò PaganiniNiccolò Paganini1782–1840 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musicians18 decades
  16. 16Camillo Benso, Count of CavourCamillo Benso, Count of Cavour1810–1861 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Politicians10 decades
  17. 17Umberto I of ItalyUmberto I of Italy1844–1900 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Historical Figures14 decades
  18. 18Pope Gregory XVIPope Gregory XVI1765–1846 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Religious Figures19 decades
  19. 19John BoscoJohn Bosco1815–1888 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Religious Figures16 decades
  20. 20Gaetano DonizettiGaetano Donizetti1797–1848 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musicians19 decades
  21. 21Vincenzo BelliniVincenzo Bellini1801–1835 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musicians22 decades
  22. 22Pietro MascagniPietro Mascagni1863–1945 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musicians13 decades
  23. 23Giovanni VergaGiovanni Verga1840–1922 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers15 decades
  24. 24Emilio SalgariEmilio Salgari1862–1911 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers13 decades
  25. 25Amedeo AvogadroAmedeo Avogadro1776–1856 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Scientists19 decades
  26. 26Cesare LombrosoCesare Lombroso1835–1909 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Doctors16 decades
  27. 27Amadeo I of SpainAmadeo I of Spain1845–1890 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  28. 28Eleonora DuseEleonora Duse1858–1924 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Actors14 decades
  29. 29Giovanni GiolittiGiovanni Giolitti1842–1928 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Politicians14 decades
  30. 30Giovanni PascoliGiovanni Pascoli1855–1912 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers14 decades
  31. 31Vittorio Emanuele OrlandoVittorio Emanuele Orlando1860–1952 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Politicians13 decades
  32. 32Francesco CrispiFrancesco Crispi1818–1901 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Politicians18 decades
  33. 33Maria Christina of the Two SiciliesMaria Christina of the Two Sicilies1806–1878 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  34. 34Luigi CadornaLuigi Cadorna1850–1928 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Politicians11 decades
  35. 35Margaret of SavoyMargaret of Savoy1851–1926 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists17 decades
  36. 36Armando DiazArmando Diaz1861–1928 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Politicians11 decades
  37. 37John William WaterhouseJohn William Waterhouse1849–1917 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists0 decades
  38. 38Francis II of the Two SiciliesFrancis II of the Two Sicilies1836–1894 · 🇮🇹 Italynot measured—
  39. 39Francis I of the Two SiciliesFrancis I of the Two Sicilies1777–1830 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Politiciansnot measured—
  40. 40Dominic SavioDominic Savio1842–1857 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Religious Figures11 decades
  41. 41Cosima WagnerCosima Wagner1837–1930 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musicians13 decades
  42. 42John Dalberg-Acton, 1st Baron ActonJohn Dalberg-Acton, 1st Baron Acton1834–1902 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Politiciansnot measured—
  43. 43Francesco HayezFrancesco Hayez1791–1882 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists20 decades
  44. 44Edmondo De AmicisEdmondo De Amicis1846–1908 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers16 decades
  45. 45Errico MalatestaErrico Malatesta1853–1932 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Activists11 decades
  46. 46Ruggero LeoncavalloRuggero Leoncavallo1857–1919 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musicians13 decades
  47. 47Maria Theresa of Naples and SicilyMaria Theresa of Naples and Sicily1772–1807 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musiciansnot measured—
  48. 48Alexander of BattenbergAlexander of Battenberg1857–1893 · 🇮🇹 Italy17 decades
  49. 49Andreas HoferAndreas Hofer1767–1810 · 🇮🇹 Italy22 decades
  50. 50Camillo GolgiCamillo Golgi1843–1926 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Doctors15 decades
  51. 51Luigi FactaLuigi Facta1861–1930 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Politicians12 decades
  52. 52Charles Felix of SavoyCharles Felix of Savoy1765–1831 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Historical Figures0 decades
  53. 53Teresa Cristina of the Two SiciliesTeresa Cristina of the Two Sicilies1822–1889 · 🇮🇹 Italynot measured—
  54. 54Giuseppe PeanoGiuseppe Peano1858–1932 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Academics14 decades
  55. 55Giovanni SegantiniGiovanni Segantini1858–1899 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists13 decades
  56. 56Princess Maria Carolina, Duchess of BerryPrincess Maria Carolina, Duchess of Berry1798–1870 · 🇮🇹 Italy0 decades
  57. 57Maria Anna of SavoyMaria Anna of Savoy1803–1884 · 🇮🇹 Italy0 decades
  58. 58Giovanni SchiaparelliGiovanni Schiaparelli1835–1910 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Scientists15 decades
  59. 59Massimo d'AzeglioMassimo d'Azeglio1798–1866 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Politicians19 decades
  60. 60Marco MinghettiMarco Minghetti1818–1886 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Politicians18 decades
  61. 61Antonio SalandraAntonio Salandra1853–1931 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Politicians15 decades
  62. 62Giovanni Battista BelzoniGiovanni Battista Belzoni1778–1823 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Historical Figures4 decades
  63. 63Arrigo BoitoArrigo Boito1842–1918 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers16 decades
  64. 64Amilcare PonchielliAmilcare Ponchielli1834–1886 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musicians15 decades
  65. 65Prince Henry of BattenbergPrince Henry of Battenberg1858–1896 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  66. 66Karl MozartKarl Mozart1784–1858 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musicians0 decades
  67. 67Louis of Parma, king of EtruriaLouis of Parma, king of Etruria1773–1803 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Politicians0 decades
  68. 68Filippo TuratiFilippo Turati1857–1932 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Politicians14 decades
  69. 69Goffredo MameliGoffredo Mameli1827–1849 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers18 decades
  70. 70Pietro GasparriPietro Gasparri1852–1934 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Religious Figures12 decades
  71. 71Alessandro MoreschiAlessandro Moreschi1858–1922 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musicians3 decades
  72. 72Vito VolterraVito Volterra1860–1940 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Academics14 decades
  73. 73Lidia PoëtLidia Poët1855–1949 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Lawyersnot measured—
  74. 74Vincenzo GiobertiVincenzo Gioberti1801–1852 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Academics20 decades
  75. 75Luigi CapuanaLuigi Capuana1839–1915 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Journalists15 decades
  76. 76Giuseppe Caspar MezzofantiGiuseppe Caspar Mezzofanti1774–1849 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Religious Figuresnot measured—
  77. 77Saverio MercadanteSaverio Mercadante1795–1870 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musicians20 decades
  78. 78Oreste BaratieriOreste Baratieri1841–1901 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Politiciansnot measured—
  79. 79Joseph CafassoJoseph Cafasso1811–1860 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Religious Figuresnot measured—
  80. 80Ernesto Teodoro MonetaErnesto Teodoro Moneta1833–1918 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Journalists11 decades
  81. 81Alfredo CatalaniAlfredo Catalani1854–1893 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musicians13 decades
  82. 82Benedetto PistrucciBenedetto Pistrucci1783–1855 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artistsnot measured—
  83. 83Macedonio MelloniMacedonio Melloni1798–1854 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Scientists19 decades
  84. 84Ermete ZacconiErmete Zacconi1857–1948 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Actorsnot measured—
  85. 85Gennaro Granito Pignatelli di BelmonteGennaro Granito Pignatelli di Belmonte1851–1948 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Religious Figuresnot measured—
  86. 86Gemma BellincioniGemma Bellincioni1864–1950 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musiciansnot measured—
  87. 87Giuseppe BossiGiuseppe Bossi1777–1815 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artistsnot measured—
  88. 88Luigi CaninaLuigi Canina1795–1856 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Academicsnot measured—
  89. 89Luigi LavazzaLuigi Lavazza1859–1949 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Foundersnot measured—
  90. 90PTPietro Tacchi Venturi1861–1956 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Religious Figuresnot measured—
  91. 91Alice BarbiAlice Barbi1858–1948 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musiciansnot measured—
  92. 92Camillo SerafiniCamillo Serafini1864–1952 · 🇮🇹 Italynot measured—
  93. 93Pelagio PalagiPelagio Palagi1775–1860 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artistsnot measured—
  94. 94Antonio Anastasio RossiAntonio Anastasio Rossi1864–1948 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Religious Figuresnot measured—
  95. 95Franco LeoniFranco Leoni1864–1949 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musiciansnot measured—
  96. 96Enrico SibiliaEnrico Sibilia1861–1948 · 🇮🇹 Italynot measured—
  97. 97Giovanni MigliaraGiovanni Migliara1785–1837 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artistsnot measured—
  98. 98Luca MontuoriLuca Montuori1859–1952 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Politiciansnot measured—
  99. 99Gino LoriaGino Loria1862–1954 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Academicsnot measured—
  100. 100Giovanni TebaldiniGiovanni Tebaldini1864–1952 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musiciansnot 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.