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. 1Nikola TeslaNikola Tesla1856–1943 · Scientists13 decades
  2. 2Charles DarwinCharles Darwin1809–1882 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Scientists21 decades
  3. 3Thomas EdisonThomas Edison1847–1931 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists13 decades
  4. 4Dmitri MendeleevDmitri Mendeleev1834–1907 · Scientists11 decades
  5. 5Louis PasteurLouis Pasteur1822–1895 · 🇫🇷 France · Scientists14 decades
  6. 6Alfred NobelAlfred Nobel1833–1896 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Scientists13 decades
  7. 7Max PlanckMax Planck1858–1947 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientists14 decades
  8. 8Gustave EiffelGustave Eiffel1832–1923 · 🇫🇷 France · Scientists10 decades
  9. 9Ivan PavlovIvan Pavlov1849–1936 · Scientists16 decades
  10. 10Konstantin TsiolkovskyKonstantin Tsiolkovsky1857–1935 · Scientists5 decades
  11. 11Alexander Graham BellAlexander Graham Bell1847–1922 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists15 decades
  12. 12Pierre CuriePierre Curie1859–1906 · 🇫🇷 France · Scientists13 decades
  13. 13Wilhelm RöntgenWilhelm Röntgen1845–1923 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientists11 decades
  14. 14Gregor MendelGregor Mendel1822–1884 · Scientists12 decades
  15. 15Karl BenzKarl Benz1844–1929 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientists11 decades
  16. 16Robert E. LeeRobert E. Lee1807–1870 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists16 decades
  17. 17Santiago Ramón y CajalSantiago Ramón y Cajal1852–1934 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Scientists13 decades
  18. 18Michael FaradayMichael Faraday1791–1867 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Scientists20 decades
  19. 19James Clerk MaxwellJames Clerk Maxwell1831–1879 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Scientists14 decades
  20. 20André-Marie AmpèreAndré-Marie Ampère1775–1836 · 🇫🇷 France · Scientists15 decades
  21. 21Rudolf DieselRudolf Diesel1858–1913 · 🇫🇷 France · Scientists10 decades
  22. 22Ernst HaeckelErnst Haeckel1834–1919 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientists16 decades
  23. 23Heinrich HertzHeinrich Hertz1857–1894 · Scientists13 decades
  24. 24Henri BecquerelHenri Becquerel1852–1908 · 🇫🇷 France · Scientists15 decades
  25. 25Louis BrailleLouis Braille1809–1852 · 🇫🇷 France · Scientists14 decades
  26. 26Justus von LiebigJustus von Liebig1803–1873 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientists17 decades
  27. 27John DaltonJohn Dalton1766–1844 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Scientists22 decades
  28. 28Georg OhmGeorg Ohm1789–1854 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientists12 decades
  29. 29Ludwig BoltzmannLudwig Boltzmann1844–1906 · 🇦🇹 Austria · Scientists15 decades
  30. 30Samuel MorseSamuel Morse1791–1872 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists0 decades
  31. 31William Thomson, 1st Baron KelvinWilliam Thomson, 1st Baron Kelvin1824–1907 · Scientistsnot measured—
  32. 32J. J. ThomsonJ. J. Thomson1856–1940 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Scientists0 decades
  33. 33Hermann von HelmholtzHermann von Helmholtz1821–1894 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientists14 decades
  34. 34Gottlieb DaimlerGottlieb Daimler1834–1900 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientists11 decades
  35. 35Ernst MachErnst Mach1838–1916 · Scientists16 decades
  36. 36Hendrik LorentzHendrik Lorentz1853–1928 · 🇳🇱 Netherlands · Scientists0 decades
  37. 37Georges CuvierGeorges Cuvier1769–1832 · 🇫🇷 France · Scientists21 decades
  38. 38Otto LilienthalOtto Lilienthal1848–1896 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientists13 decades
  39. 39Nicéphore NiépceNicéphore Niépce1765–1833 · 🇫🇷 France · Scientists6 decades
  40. 40Werner von SiemensWerner von Siemens1816–1892 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientists13 decades
  41. 41Louis DaguerreLouis Daguerre1787–1851 · 🇫🇷 France · Scientists1 decades
  42. 42Nicolas Léonard Sadi CarnotNicolas Léonard Sadi Carnot1796–1832 · 🇫🇷 France · Scientists16 decades
  43. 43James Prescott JouleJames Prescott Joule1818–1889 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Scientists3 decades
  44. 44Svante ArrheniusSvante Arrhenius1859–1927 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Scientists6 decades
  45. 45Alexander Stepanovich PopovAlexander Stepanovich Popov1859–1905 · Scientists15 decades
  46. 46Thomas Henry HuxleyThomas Henry Huxley1825–1895 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Scientists16 decades
  47. 47Peter Carl FabergéPeter Carl Fabergé1846–1920 · Scientists3 decades
  48. 48Amedeo AvogadroAmedeo Avogadro1776–1856 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Scientists19 decades
  49. 49Hans Christian ØrstedHans Christian Ørsted1777–1851 · Scientists0 decades
  50. 50Nikolai PirogovNikolai Pirogov1810–1881 · Scientists15 decades
  51. 51Philipp LenardPhilipp Lenard1862–1947 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientists11 decades
  52. 52Joseph Louis Gay-LussacJoseph Louis Gay-Lussac1778–1850 · 🇫🇷 France · Scientistsnot measured—
  53. 53Gustav KirchhoffGustav Kirchhoff1824–1887 · Scientists4 decades
  54. 54John MuirJohn Muir1838–1914 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists19 decades
  55. 55Humphry DavyHumphry Davy1778–1829 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Scientists22 decades
  56. 56Jöns Jacob BerzeliusJöns Jacob Berzelius1779–1848 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Scientists0 decades
  57. 57Sergei Prokudin-GorskiiSergei Prokudin-Gorskii1863–1944 · Scientists0 decades
  58. 58Thomas YoungThomas Young1773–1829 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Scientists22 decades
  59. 59George StephensonGeorge Stephenson1781–1848 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Scientists22 decades
  60. 60Samuel ColtSamuel Colt1814–1862 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists18 decades
  61. 61Ferdinand I of BulgariaFerdinand I of Bulgaria1861–1948 · 🇦🇹 Austria · Scientists0 decades
  62. 62Carl ZeissCarl Zeiss1816–1888 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientists13 decades
  63. 63Ferdinand von ZeppelinFerdinand von Zeppelin1838–1917 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientists5 decades
  64. 64George Washington CarverGeorge Washington Carver1864–1943 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists9 decades
  65. 65Isambard Kingdom BrunelIsambard Kingdom Brunel1806–1859 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Scientists2 decades
  66. 66Élie MetchnikoffÉlie Metchnikoff1845–1916 · 🇫🇷 France · Scientistsnot measured—
  67. 67Frederick Winslow TaylorFrederick Winslow Taylor1856–1915 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists8 decades
  68. 68James NaismithJames Naismith1861–1939 · 🇨🇦 Canada · Scientists3 decades
  69. 69Robert BoschRobert Bosch1861–1942 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientists13 decades
  70. 70Antonio MeucciAntonio Meucci1808–1889 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists14 decades
  71. 71John Stith PembertonJohn Stith Pemberton1831–1888 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists19 decades
  72. 72Robert FultonRobert Fulton1765–1815 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists22 decades
  73. 73Richard TrevithickRichard Trevithick1771–1833 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Scientists19 decades
  74. 74Charles GoodyearCharles Goodyear1800–1860 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists19 decades
  75. 75Isaac SingerIsaac Singer1811–1875 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists0 decades
  76. 76George WestinghouseGeorge Westinghouse1846–1914 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists15 decades
  77. 77John Jacob Astor IVJohn Jacob Astor IV1864–1912 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists0 decades
  78. 78Richard OwenRichard Owen1804–1892 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Scientists22 decades
  79. 79Charles George GordonCharles George Gordon1833–1885 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Scientists5 decades
  80. 80John BrowningJohn Browning1855–1926 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists16 decades
  81. 81Oliver HeavisideOliver Heaviside1850–1925 · Scientists10 decades
  82. 82Matthew C. PerryMatthew C. Perry1794–1858 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists9 decades
  83. 83George MeadeGeorge Meade1815–1872 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists13 decades
  84. 84SequoyahSequoyah1770–1843 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists16 decades
  85. 85Nikolaus OttoNikolaus Otto1832–1891 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientists0 decades
  86. 86Herman HollerithHerman Hollerith1860–1929 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists4 decades
  87. 87Rudolf ClausiusRudolf Clausius1822–1888 · Scientists8 decades
  88. 88Ivan MichurinIvan Michurin1855–1935 · Scientists9 decades
  89. 89August KekuléAugust Kekulé1829–1896 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientists4 decades
  90. 90Léon FoucaultLéon Foucault1819–1868 · 🇫🇷 France · Scientists14 decades
  91. 91Louis AgassizLouis Agassiz1807–1873 · 🇨🇭 Switzerland · Scientists16 decades
  92. 92Augustin-Jean FresnelAugustin-Jean Fresnel1788–1827 · 🇫🇷 France · Scientists15 decades
  93. 93Josiah Willard GibbsJosiah Willard Gibbs1839–1903 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists5 decades
  94. 94Robert BunsenRobert Bunsen1811–1899 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientists9 decades
  95. 95Joseph von FraunhoferJoseph von Fraunhofer1787–1826 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientists4 decades
  96. 96Percival LowellPercival Lowell1855–1916 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists14 decades
  97. 97P. G. T. BeauregardP. G. T. Beauregard1818–1893 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientistsnot measured—
  98. 98Wilhelm MaybachWilhelm Maybach1846–1929 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientists8 decades
  99. 99Karl DraisKarl Drais1785–1851 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientists0 decades
  100. 100Hugo JunkersHugo Junkers1859–1935 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientists11 decades

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.