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. 1Itō HirobumiItō Hirobumi1841–1909 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politicians0 decades
  2. 2Saigō TakamoriSaigō Takamori1828–1877 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politicians0 decades
  3. 3Tōgō HeihachirōTōgō Heihachirō1848–1934 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politicians0 decades
  4. 4Sakamoto RyōmaSakamoto Ryōma1836–1867 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politicians0 decades
  5. 5Takahashi KorekiyoTakahashi Korekiyo1854–1936 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politicians0 decades
  6. 6Tanaka GiichiTanaka Giichi1864–1929 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politicians0 decades
  7. 7Matsukata MasayoshiMatsukata Masayoshi1835–1924 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politicians0 decades
  8. 8Yamamoto GonnohyōeYamamoto Gonnohyōe1852–1933 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politicians0 decades
  9. 9Nogi MaresukeNogi Maresuke1849–1912 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politicians0 decades
  10. 10Ōkubo ToshimichiŌkubo Toshimichi1830–1878 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politicians0 decades
  11. 11Ōyama IwaoŌyama Iwao1842–1916 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politiciansnot measured—
  12. 12Saitō MakotoSaitō Makoto1858–1936 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politicians0 decades
  13. 13Yoshida ShōinYoshida Shōin1830–1859 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politicians0 decades
  14. 14Kido TakayoshiKido Takayoshi1833–1877 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politicians0 decades
  15. 15Iwakura TomomiIwakura Tomomi1825–1883 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politicians0 decades
  16. 16Itagaki TaisukeItagaki Taisuke1837–1919 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politicians0 decades
  17. 17Enomoto TakeakiEnomoto Takeaki1836–1908 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politicians0 decades
  18. 18Katō TakaakiKatō Takaaki1860–1926 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politicians0 decades
  19. 19Yamagata AritomoYamagata Aritomo1838–1922 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politicians3 decades
  20. 20Katsu KaishūKatsu Kaishū1823–1899 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politicians0 decades
  21. 21Sanjō SanetomiSanjō Sanetomi1837–1891 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politicians0 decades
  22. 22Ōkuma ShigenobuŌkuma Shigenobu1838–1922 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politicians0 decades
  23. 23Katō TomosaburōKatō Tomosaburō1861–1923 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politicians0 decades
  24. 24Inukai TsuyoshiInukai Tsuyoshi1855–1932 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politicians0 decades
  25. 25Hara TakashiHara Takashi1856–1921 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politicians0 decades
  26. 26Ii NaosukeIi Naosuke1815–1860 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politicians0 decades
  27. 27Kiyoura KeigoKiyoura Keigo1850–1942 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politicians0 decades
  28. 28Inoue KaoruInoue Kaoru1836–1915 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politicians0 decades
  29. 29Saionji KinmochiSaionji Kinmochi1849–1940 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politicians0 decades
  30. 30Gotō ShinpeiGotō Shinpei1857–1929 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politicians0 decades
  31. 31Katsura TarōKatsura Tarō1848–1913 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politicians0 decades
  32. 32Terauchi MasatakeTerauchi Masatake1852–1919 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politicians0 decades
  33. 33Sakuma ShōzanSakuma Shōzan1811–1864 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politiciansnot measured—
  34. 34Shōjirō GotōShōjirō Gotō1838–1897 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politiciansnot measured—
  35. 35Saigō TsugumichiSaigō Tsugumichi1843–1902 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politiciansnot measured—
  36. 36Kuroda KiyotakaKuroda Kiyotaka1840–1900 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politicians0 decades
  37. 37Kabayama SukenoriKabayama Sukenori1837–1922 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politiciansnot measured—
  38. 38Mutsu MunemitsuMutsu Munemitsu1844–1897 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politiciansnot measured—
  39. 39Tokugawa NariakiTokugawa Nariaki1800–1860 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politiciansnot measured—
  40. 40Abe MasahiroAbe Masahiro1819–1857 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politiciansnot measured—
  41. 41Makino NobuakiMakino Nobuaki1861–1949 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politiciansnot measured—
  42. 42Mori ArinoriMori Arinori1847–1889 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politiciansnot measured—
  43. 43Yukio OzakiYukio Ozaki1858–1954 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politiciansnot measured—
  44. 44Ōmura MasujirōŌmura Masujirō1824–1869 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politiciansnot measured—
  45. 45Etō ShinpeiEtō Shinpei1834–1874 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politiciansnot measured—
  46. 46Tokugawa IesatoTokugawa Iesato1863–1940 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politiciansnot measured—
  47. 47Nozu MichitsuraNozu Michitsura1840–1908 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politiciansnot measured—
  48. 48Mizuno TadakuniMizuno Tadakuni1794–1851 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politiciansnot measured—
  49. 49Tōyama MitsuruTōyama Mitsuru1855–1944 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politiciansnot measured—
  50. 50Date MunenariDate Munenari1818–1892 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politiciansnot measured—
  51. 51Ōtori KeisukeŌtori Keisuke1833–1911 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politiciansnot measured—
  52. 52Prince Arisugawa TaruhitoPrince Arisugawa Taruhito1835–1895 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politiciansnot measured—
  53. 53Prince Arisugawa TakehitoPrince Arisugawa Takehito1862–1913 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politiciansnot measured—
  54. 54Miura GorōMiura Gorō1847–1926 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politiciansnot measured—
  55. 55Uryū SotokichiUryū Sotokichi1857–1937 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politiciansnot measured—
  56. 56Sano TsunetamiSano Tsunetami1822–1902 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politiciansnot measured—
  57. 57Kaneko KentarōKaneko Kentarō1853–1942 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politiciansnot measured—
  58. 58Yamaoka TesshūYamaoka Tesshū1836–1888 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politiciansnot measured—
  59. 59Yamada AkiyoshiYamada Akiyoshi1844–1892 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politiciansnot measured—
  60. 60Ōki TakatōŌki Takatō1832–1899 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politiciansnot measured—
  61. 61Kawaji ToshiyoshiKawaji Toshiyoshi1834–1879 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politiciansnot measured—
  62. 62Shimazu TadayoshiShimazu Tadayoshi1840–1897 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politiciansnot measured—
  63. 63Fukushima YasumasaFukushima Yasumasa1852–1919 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politiciansnot measured—
  64. 64Inoue KowashiInoue Kowashi1843–1895 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politiciansnot measured—
  65. 65Prince Fushimi SadanaruPrince Fushimi Sadanaru1858–1923 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politiciansnot measured—
  66. 66Katō HiroyukiKatō Hiroyuki1836–1916 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politiciansnot measured—
  67. 67Hirata TosukeHirata Tosuke1849–1925 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politiciansnot measured—
  68. 68Kuni AsahikoKuni Asahiko1824–1891 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politiciansnot measured—
  69. 69Matsudaira YoshinagaMatsudaira Yoshinaga1828–1890 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politiciansnot measured—
  70. 70Yamamoto KakumaYamamoto Kakuma1828–1892 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politiciansnot measured—
  71. 71Hozumi NobushigeHozumi Nobushige1855–1926 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politiciansnot measured—
  72. 72Adachi KenzōAdachi Kenzō1864–1948 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politiciansnot measured—
  73. 73Uehara YūsakuUehara Yūsaku1856–1933 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politiciansnot measured—
  74. 74Suematsu KenchōSuematsu Kenchō1855–1920 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politiciansnot measured—
  75. 75Hoshi TōruHoshi Tōru1850–1901 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politiciansnot measured—
  76. 76Takayuki SasakiTakayuki Sasaki1830–1910 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politiciansnot measured—
  77. 77Yamao YōzōYamao Yōzō1837–1917 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politiciansnot measured—
  78. 78Yokoi ShōnanYokoi Shōnan1809–1869 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politiciansnot measured—
  79. 79Komatsu KiyokadoKomatsu Kiyokado1835–1870 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politiciansnot measured—
  80. 80Nabeshima NaomasaNabeshima Naomasa1815–1871 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politiciansnot measured—
  81. 81Kujō MichitakaKujō Michitaka1839–1906 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politiciansnot measured—
  82. 82Tani TatekiTani Tateki1837–1911 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politiciansnot measured—
  83. 83Shinagawa YajirōShinagawa Yajirō1843–1900 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politiciansnot measured—
  84. 84Inoue MasaruInoue Masaru1843–1910 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politiciansnot measured—
  85. 85Ōshima Ken'ichiŌshima Ken'ichi1858–1947 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politiciansnot measured—
  86. 86Yamagata IsaburōYamagata Isaburō1858–1927 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politiciansnot measured—
  87. 87Shōzō TanakaShōzō Tanaka1841–1913 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politiciansnot measured—
  88. 88Maejima HisokaMaejima Hisoka1835–1919 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politiciansnot measured—
  89. 89Konoe AtsumaroKonoe Atsumaro1863–1904 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politiciansnot measured—
  90. 90Konoe TadahiroKonoe Tadahiro1808–1898 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politiciansnot measured—
  91. 91Nakayama TadayasuNakayama Tadayasu1809–1888 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politiciansnot measured—
  92. 92Nagai NaoyukiNagai Naoyuki1816–1896 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politiciansnot measured—
  93. 93TMTakatsukasa Masamichi1789–1868 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politiciansnot measured—
  94. 94Uesugi MochinoriUesugi Mochinori1844–1919 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politiciansnot measured—
  95. 95Yamamoto TatsuoYamamoto Tatsuo1856–1947 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politiciansnot measured—
  96. 96Hijikata HisamotoHijikata Hisamoto1833–1918 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politiciansnot measured—
  97. 97Tsuda SenTsuda Sen1837–1908 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politiciansnot measured—
  98. 98Arichi ShinanojoArichi Shinanojo1843–1919 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politiciansnot measured—
  99. 99Murata TsuneyoshiMurata Tsuneyoshi1838–1921 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politiciansnot measured—
  100. 100Tsuda MamichiTsuda Mamichi1829–1903 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politiciansnot 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.