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. 1Thomas EdisonThomas Edison1847–1931 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists13 decades
  2. 2Alexander Graham BellAlexander Graham Bell1847–1922 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists15 decades
  3. 3Robert E. LeeRobert E. Lee1807–1870 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists16 decades
  4. 4Samuel MorseSamuel Morse1791–1872 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists0 decades
  5. 5John MuirJohn Muir1838–1914 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists19 decades
  6. 6Samuel ColtSamuel Colt1814–1862 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists18 decades
  7. 7George Washington CarverGeorge Washington Carver1864–1943 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists9 decades
  8. 8Frederick Winslow TaylorFrederick Winslow Taylor1856–1915 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists8 decades
  9. 9Antonio MeucciAntonio Meucci1808–1889 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists14 decades
  10. 10John Stith PembertonJohn Stith Pemberton1831–1888 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists19 decades
  11. 11Robert FultonRobert Fulton1765–1815 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists22 decades
  12. 12Charles GoodyearCharles Goodyear1800–1860 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists19 decades
  13. 13Isaac SingerIsaac Singer1811–1875 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists0 decades
  14. 14George WestinghouseGeorge Westinghouse1846–1914 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists15 decades
  15. 15John Jacob Astor IVJohn Jacob Astor IV1864–1912 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists0 decades
  16. 16John BrowningJohn Browning1855–1926 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists16 decades
  17. 17Matthew C. PerryMatthew C. Perry1794–1858 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists9 decades
  18. 18George MeadeGeorge Meade1815–1872 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists13 decades
  19. 19SequoyahSequoyah1770–1843 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists16 decades
  20. 20Herman HollerithHerman Hollerith1860–1929 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists4 decades
  21. 21Josiah Willard GibbsJosiah Willard Gibbs1839–1903 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists5 decades
  22. 22Percival LowellPercival Lowell1855–1916 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists14 decades
  23. 23P. G. T. BeauregardP. G. T. Beauregard1818–1893 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientistsnot measured—
  24. 24James BowieJames Bowie1796–1836 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists18 decades
  25. 25Hiram MaximHiram Maxim1840–1916 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists0 decades
  26. 26Albert A. MichelsonAlbert A. Michelson1852–1931 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists0 decades
  27. 27Josephine CochraneJosephine Cochrane1839–1913 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists0 decades
  28. 28Edward Drinker CopeEdward Drinker Cope1840–1897 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists2 decades
  29. 29Emile BerlinerEmile Berliner1851–1929 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists4 decades
  30. 30Eli WhitneyEli Whitney1765–1825 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists21 decades
  31. 31Johnny AppleseedJohnny Appleseed1774–1845 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists13 decades
  32. 32John Wesley PowellJohn Wesley Powell1834–1902 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists12 decades
  33. 33Luther BurbankLuther Burbank1849–1926 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists13 decades
  34. 34Joseph HenryJoseph Henry1797–1878 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists22 decades
  35. 35Emily Warren RoeblingEmily Warren Roebling1843–1903 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists0 decades
  36. 36Annie Jump CannonAnnie Jump Cannon1863–1941 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists0 decades
  37. 37John DeereJohn Deere1804–1886 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists17 decades
  38. 38Mihajlo PupinMihajlo Pupin1858–1935 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists0 decades
  39. 39John Augustus RoeblingJohn Augustus Roebling1806–1869 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists0 decades
  40. 40Richard Jordan GatlingRichard Jordan Gatling1818–1903 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists0 decades
  41. 41Elisha GrayElisha Gray1835–1901 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists9 decades
  42. 42Henry GanttHenry Gantt1861–1919 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists0 decades
  43. 43Samuel Pierpont LangleySamuel Pierpont Langley1834–1906 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists0 decades
  44. 44Eunice Newton FooteEunice Newton Foote1819–1888 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists0 decades
  45. 45Elias HoweElias Howe1819–1866 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists17 decades
  46. 46Cyrus McCormickCyrus McCormick1809–1884 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists12 decades
  47. 47Lewis Howard LatimerLewis Howard Latimer1848–1928 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists0 decades
  48. 48Maria MitchellMaria Mitchell1818–1889 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists17 decades
  49. 49George PullmanGeorge Pullman1831–1897 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists7 decades
  50. 50Asa GrayAsa Gray1810–1888 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists19 decades
  51. 51Henry Fairfield OsbornHenry Fairfield Osborn1857–1935 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists11 decades
  52. 52Charles WilkesCharles Wilkes1798–1877 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists22 decades
  53. 53Constantine Samuel RafinesqueConstantine Samuel Rafinesque1783–1840 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists0 decades
  54. 54Matthew Fontaine MauryMatthew Fontaine Maury1806–1873 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists12 decades
  55. 55Eli LillyEli Lilly1838–1898 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientistsnot measured—
  56. 56George Washington Gale Ferris, Jr.George Washington Gale Ferris, Jr.1859–1896 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists0 decades
  57. 57Williamina FlemingWilliamina Fleming1857–1911 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists0 decades
  58. 58Asaph HallAsaph Hall1829–1907 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists7 decades
  59. 59Edmund Kirby SmithEdmund Kirby Smith1824–1893 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists3 decades
  60. 60Jacob W. DavisJacob W. Davis1831–1908 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientistsnot measured—
  61. 61Edwin HallEdwin Hall1855–1938 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists7 decades
  62. 62Alfred VailAlfred Vail1807–1859 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists8 decades
  63. 63Ellen Swallow RichardsEllen Swallow Richards1842–1911 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists0 decades
  64. 64Charles PfizerCharles Pfizer1824–1906 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientistsnot measured—
  65. 65Edward Emerson BarnardEdward Emerson Barnard1857–1923 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists0 decades
  66. 66Edwin DrakeEdwin Drake1819–1880 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientistsnot measured—
  67. 67Charles Martin HallCharles Martin Hall1863–1914 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists3 decades
  68. 68Granville Tailer WoodsGranville Tailer Woods1856–1910 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientistsnot measured—
  69. 69David Dunbar BuickDavid Dunbar Buick1854–1929 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientistsnot measured—
  70. 70Margaret E. KnightMargaret E. Knight1838–1914 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientistsnot measured—
  71. 71Sam LoydSam Loyd1841–1911 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists0 decades
  72. 72Morgan RobertsonMorgan Robertson1861–1915 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientistsnot measured—
  73. 73Edward W. MorleyEdward W. Morley1838–1923 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists2 decades
  74. 74Horace WellsHorace Wells1815–1848 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientistsnot measured—
  75. 75Ferdinand Vandeveer HaydenFerdinand Vandeveer Hayden1829–1887 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientistsnot measured—
  76. 76James Dwight DanaJames Dwight Dana1813–1895 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists8 decades
  77. 77Whitcomb L. JudsonWhitcomb L. Judson1846–1909 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientistsnot measured—
  78. 78Emma WillardEmma Willard1787–1870 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists20 decades
  79. 79William Smith ClarkWilliam Smith Clark1826–1886 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientistsnot measured—
  80. 80Henry M. LelandHenry M. Leland1843–1932 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientistsnot measured—
  81. 81Edward Porter AlexanderEdward Porter Alexander1835–1910 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientistsnot measured—
  82. 82Walter HuntWalter Hunt1796–1859 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientistsnot measured—
  83. 83Charles Doolittle WalcottCharles Doolittle Walcott1850–1927 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists4 decades
  84. 84Charles M. SchwabCharles M. Schwab1862–1939 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientistsnot measured—
  85. 85Edward Charles PickeringEdward Charles Pickering1846–1919 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists0 decades
  86. 86Gouverneur Kemble WarrenGouverneur Kemble Warren1830–1882 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientistsnot measured—
  87. 87Heinrich GöbelHeinrich Göbel1818–1893 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientistsnot measured—
  88. 88William Henry PickeringWilliam Henry Pickering1858–1938 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists0 decades
  89. 89William Barton RogersWilliam Barton Rogers1804–1882 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientistsnot measured—
  90. 90L. L. LangstrothL. L. Langstroth1810–1895 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists3 decades
  91. 91Thomas SayThomas Say1787–1834 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists20 decades
  92. 92John Wesley HyattJohn Wesley Hyatt1837–1920 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists1 decades
  93. 93James Buchanan EadsJames Buchanan Eads1820–1887 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientistsnot measured—
  94. 94John Taliaferro ThompsonJohn Taliaferro Thompson1860–1940 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientistsnot measured—
  95. 95George Washington GoethalsGeorge Washington Goethals1858–1928 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientistsnot measured—
  96. 96Liberty Hyde BaileyLiberty Hyde Bailey1858–1954 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists10 decades
  97. 97Almon Brown StrowgerAlmon Brown Strowger1839–1902 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientistsnot measured—
  98. 98Jacob PerkinsJacob Perkins1766–1849 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientistsnot measured—
  99. 99William StanleyWilliam Stanley1858–1916 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientistsnot measured—
  100. 100John Strong NewberryJohn Strong Newberry1822–1892 · 🇺🇸 United States · 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.