List Of Famous People Of The 18th Century

There were many people born in the 18th century who went ahead to change the world in radical ways. The 18th century was a politically tumultuous period in several parts of the world, especially in Europe, Asia, and America. Marked by major revolutions across the globe including the French and the American revolutions, the period witnessed the birth of some truly great men and women from all over the world. Maximilien Robespierre was one of the most influential figures of the French Revolution. The century also saw the birth of George Washington who later became the first President of the United States. The world of music and arts was also revolutionized by the likes of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Ludwig van Beethoven, Johann Wolfgang (von) Goethe, Jean-Baptiste Greuze, François Boucher, and the likes. The great mathematician Leonhard Euler and the innovator James Watt also made major contributions to the world in this era. Adam Smith, the father of modern economics, is another major 18th century figure. Read on to learn more about the life and works of famous people of the 18th century.

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Birthdate: February 22, 1732

Sun Sign: Pisces

Birthplace: Westmoreland County, Virginia, United States

Died: December 14, 1799

America’s first president, George Washington led the country with integrity, firmness and prudence that made him one of the greatest presidents in American history. He became a national hero before assuming presidency, when he led the Continental Army to victory against the British during the American Revolution.

Birthdate: January 11, 1755

Sun Sign: Capricorn

Birthplace: Charlestown, Saint Kitts and Nevis

Died: July 12, 1804

Known as America’s one of the most influential Founding Fathers, Alexander Hamilton was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention and served as the first secretary of the treasury. He also fought in the American Revolutionary War and was considered as a leading votary of the strong central government.

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(One of the Most Influential Scientists of All Time)

Birthdate: January 4, 1643

Sun Sign: Capricorn

Birthplace: Lincolnshire, England

Died: March 31, 1727

One of the most influential and popular scientists of all time, Sir Isaac Newton played a prominent role in our understanding of natural phenomena. He formulated the law of universal gravitation and laws of motion. He also developed the Newtonian telescope among other devices. Apart from science, Newton was also intrigued by religion, occult, and alchemy.

Birthdate: August 15, 1769

Sun Sign: Leo

Birthplace: Ajaccio, France

Died: May 5, 1821

French military leader Napoleon Bonaparte ruled as the French emperor from 1804 to 1814 and again in 1815. He strengthened France’s position in Europe through the Napoleonic Wars and extended his kingdom. However, he was eventually defeated by the Seventh Coalition at the Battle of Waterloo and sent to exile. 

Birthdate: January 17, 1706

Sun Sign: Capricorn

Birthplace: Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Died: April 17, 1790

Benjamin Franklin is considered one of the founding fathers of the United States as he was a signer of both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. He was a writer, politician, scientist, inventor, civic activist, an accomplished diplomat and much more. He is a key figure in the history of physics for his discoveries and theories regarding electricity.

Birthdate: April 13, 1743

Sun Sign: Aries

Birthplace: Shadwell, Virginia, United States

Died: July 4, 1826

The 2nd Vice President and the 3rd President of America, Thomas Jefferson was one of the Founding Fathers of USA and the principal draftsman of the Declaration of Independence. Jefferson was a staunch advocate of democracy and a strong believer of individual rights and religious freedom, despite the fact that he himself owned nearly 600 slaves.

Birthdate: January 27, 1756

Sun Sign: Aquarius

Birthplace: Salzburg, Austria

Died: December 5, 1791

A child prodigy, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart is regarded as one of the greatest classical composers ever. A prolific composer, he had a profound influence on Western music. Many of his works are considered pinnacles of choral, symphonic, operatic, chamber, and concertante music. Before his death, at the age of 35, he had composed over 600 works.

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(One of the Most Admired Composers and Pianists in the History of Western Music)

Birthdate: December 17, 1770

Sun Sign: Sagittarius

Birthplace: Bonn, Germany

Died: March 26, 1827

German composer and pianist, Ludwig van Beethoven, remains one of the most admired composers in the history of Western music even two centuries after his death. Born into a musical family, he was initially tutored by his father. He found success early as a pianist and went on to become an admired composer despite suffering from hearing-impairment.

Birthdate: November 2, 1755

Sun Sign: Scorpio

Birthplace: The Hofburg, Vienna, Austria

Died: October 16, 1793

The last queen of France before the French Revolution started, Marie Antoinette was married to Louis XVI of France and came to be linked with everything that was wrong with the French monarchy including ignorance and extravagance. Her policies aggravated unrest that eventually led to the abolishment of the monarchy and finally the execution of both king and queen.

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(2nd President of United States (1797-1801))

Birthdate: October 30, 1735

Sun Sign: Scorpio

Birthplace: Braintree, Massachusetts, United States

Died: July 4, 1826

One of the Founding Fathers of America, John Adams was a statesman, attorney, and diplomat who served as the second president of the United States. He was a principal leader of the American Revolution. As a lawyer, he was devoted to the right to counsel and presumption of innocence. His administration has been favorably ranked by historians and scholars.

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(English Author Best Known for Her Novels: ‘Sense and Sensibility’, ‘Pride and Prejudice’, ‘Mansfield Park’ and ‘Emma’)

Birthdate: December 16, 1775

Sun Sign: Sagittarius

Birthplace: Steventon, Hampshire, England, United Kingdom

Died: July 18, 1817

Considered one of the greatest writers in English history, Jane Austen is best known for her six major novels - Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice, Mansfield Park, Emma, Persuasion and Northanger Abbey. Her writing was set among the British landed gentry and dealt with ordinary people in everyday ordinary situation. The author achieved great fame after her death. 

Birthdate: May 2, 1729

Sun Sign: Taurus

Birthplace: Pomeranian Dukes' Castle in Szczecin, Szczecin, Poland

Died: November 17, 1796

The Empress of Russia for almost 35 years, Catherine the Great was the country's longest-ruling female leader. An ambitious ruler, she rapidly expanded the Russian Empire and is credited with modernizing the country along Western European lines. She supported the ideals of the Enlightenment and the period of her rule—the Catherinian Era—is considered the Golden Age of Russia.

Birthdate: March 31, 1685

Sun Sign: Aries

Birthplace: Eisenach, Germany

Died: July 28, 1750

Johann Sebastian Bach was an 18-th century German composer of the Baroque period. He redefined both church and secular music. He served as the court musician of Duke Johann Ernst and King Augustus III. He created more than 300 cantatas and vocal music such as Mass in B minor.

Birthdate: March 16, 1751

Sun Sign: Pisces

Birthplace: Port Conway, Virginia, United States

Died: June 28, 1836

James Madison played an important role in drafting the US Constitution and the US Bill of Rights and is hailed as the Father of the Constitution. He also co-wrote The Federalist Papers, considered to be a seminal work of political science. As president, he led the country into the 1812 war and historians place him as an above-average president.

Birthdate: August 9, 1757

Sun Sign: Leo

Birthplace: Albany, New York, United States

Died: November 9, 1854

The better half of one of America’s founding fathers, Alexander Hamilton, Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton was involved in her husband’s political career during his lifetime and worked towards protecting his legacy after his death. A social worker, she lent support to multiple charitable causes including establishing New York’s first private orphanage.

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(English Philosopher and Physician, Popularly Known as the ‘Father of Liberalism’)

Birthdate: August 29, 1632

Sun Sign: Virgo

Birthplace: Wrington, Somerset, England

Died: October 28, 1704

John Locke, also known as The Father of Liberalism, was a prominent Enlightenment Age philosopher. A qualified physician, Locke postulated the theory of mind, empiricism, and the idea of tabula rasa. His ideas influenced the social contract theory, the works of Kant and Rousseau, and the U.S. Declaration of Independence.

Birthdate: March 15, 1767

Sun Sign: Pisces

Birthplace: Waxhaws

Died: June 8, 1845

Andrew Jackson was the 7th President of USA. His presidential reign has been termed as Jacksonian democracy and witnessedthe shift of political power from established elites to ordinary voters. Coming from humble beginnings, Jackson knew the struggle of the masses and thus, worked towards creating a more inclusive country.  His picture has been featured on the front side of $20 bill since 1928.

Birthdate: April 7, 1770

Sun Sign: Aries

Birthplace: Kingdom of Great Britain

Died: April 23, 1850

English poet William Wordsworth, along with Samuel Taylor Coleridge, released Lyrical Ballads in 1798, which set the tone for the Romantic Age of English Literature. Wordsworth was known for his poems I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud, The Prelude, and The Solitary Reaper. He also served as the Poet Laureate.

Birthdate: February 6, 1756

Sun Sign: Aquarius

Birthplace: Newark, New Jersey, United States

Died: September 14, 1836

A soldier, lawyer and one of the founding Fathers of America, Aaron Burr rose to become the third Vice president of the United States. His turbulent political career, which included bitter rivalry with Alexander Hamilton, concluded when he mortally wounded Hamilton in a duel and was later charged with treason.

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(French Historian and Philosopher Known for His Wit and His Pointed Social Critique)

Birthdate: November 21, 1694

Sun Sign: Scorpio

Birthplace: Paris, France

Died: May 30, 1778

18th-century historian, author, philosopher, and advocate of freedom of speech Voltaire was a leading figure of the French Age of Enlightenment. He often ran into trouble for his criticism of the French nobility and the Roman Catholic Church. He once went to Britain on voluntary exile, fearing imprisonment in France.

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(Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Tennessee from 1827 to 1831)

Birthdate: August 17, 1786

Sun Sign: Leo

Birthplace: Limestone, Tennessee, United States

Died: March 6, 1836

American folk hero Davy Crockett, or the "King of the Wild Frontier,” was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Tennessee and part of the Texas Revolution. He opposed the Indian Removal Act. He was killed by the Mexican army the Battle of the Alamo.

Birthdate: July 24, 1783

Sun Sign: Leo

Birthplace: Caracas, Venezuela

Died: December 17, 1830

After losing his parents as a child, Simon Bolivar also lost his Spanish wife to yellow fever later and thus decided to devote himself to politics. He was the first president of Gran Colombia and Bolivia, and also led Peru and Venezuela in their fight for freedom, against Spain.

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(French Aristocrat, Freemason and Military Officer Who Fought in the American Revolutionary War)

Birthdate: September 6, 1757

Sun Sign: Virgo

Birthplace: Chavaniac-Lafayette, France

Died: May 20, 1834

Marquis de Lafayette was a French aristocrat and military officer, who  is remembered for fighting in the American Revolutionary War, as the commander of American troops in several battles. After returning to France, he played key roles in the French Revolution of 1789 and the July Revolution of 1830. Considered a hero in both America and France, he advocated the end of slavery.  

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(British Naval Captain, Navigator and Explorer)

Birthdate: November 7, 1728

Sun Sign: Scorpio

Birthplace: Marton, England

Died: February 14, 1779

British explorer, navigator, and cartographer James Cook, who had also served the merchant navy and Royal Navy, was the first to complete an expedition around New Zealand. He explored areas in the South Pacific, such as eastern Australia and Hawaii. He was killed while trying to kidnap a Hawaiian king.

Birthdate: April 22, 1724

Sun Sign: Taurus

Birthplace: Königsberg, Germany

Died: February 12, 1804

Immanuel Kant was a German philosopher whose works in fields like aesthetics and metaphysics have made him an important and influential personality in Western philosophy. His views continue to influence contemporary philosophy. Kant has had a major influence on prominent philosophers like Hegel, Schelling, Reinhold, and Fichte. Kant's work on mathematics is cited by Albert Einstein as an early influence.

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(English Poet Who is Considered a Seminal Figure in the History of the Poetry of the Romantic Age)

Birthdate: November 28, 1757

Sun Sign: Sagittarius

Birthplace: London, England, United Kingdom

Died: August 12, 1827

William Blake, author of The Songs of Innocence and of Experience, was a prominent figure of the early phase of the Romantic Age, known as the pre-Romantic era. Known for his visual artistry and poetry, he was also a staunch abolitionist and a forerunner of the "free love" movement.

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(18th Century Scottish Economist Who is Considered the Father of Modern Economics)

Birthdate: June 5, 1723

Sun Sign: Gemini

Birthplace: Kirkcaldy, Fife, Scotland

Died: July 17, 1790

Widely considered The Father of Economics, Adam Smith was a Scottish philosopher and economist. A pioneer of political economy, Adam Smith played a major role during the Scottish Enlightenment. His book The Wealth of Nations is regarded as the first modern work of economics and a forerunner of today's academic discipline of economics.

Birthdate: 1788 AD

Birthplace: Salmon

Died: 1812 AD

Sacagawea, a Lemhi Shoshone woman, became a significant part of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, helping its members connect with the Native Americans along the trail. The National American Woman Suffrage Association later honored her by erecting several statues in her memory. She finds mention in many books and films.

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(One of the Founding Fathers Who Served as the 5th President of the United States)

Birthdate: April 28, 1758

Sun Sign: Taurus

Birthplace: Monroe Hall, Virginia, United States

Died: July 4, 1831

James Monroe, a Founding Father of the U.S., served as the American president from 1817 to 1825. He opposed European colonialism and issued the Monroe Doctrine. He had also been a U.S. secretary of state, the Virginia governor, a U.S. Senate member, and the American ambassador to Britain and France.

 30 

(American Military Officer & Silversmith Who Warned Boston-Area Residents that the British Were Coming During His Midnight Ride)

Birthdate: January 1, 1735

Sun Sign: Capricorn

Birthplace: Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Died: May 10, 1818

Paul Revere was a silversmith from Boston and a Patriot in the American Revolution who is remembered for alerting his fellow Patriots, during a midnight ride, about the approaching British forces prior to the battles of Lexington and Concord. He remains immortalized in Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's poem Paul Revere's Ride.

 31 

(Novelist Best Known for 'The Sorrows of Young Werther', the First Novel of The Sturm Und Drang Movement)

Birthdate: August 28, 1749

Sun Sign: Virgo

Birthplace: Goethe House, Frankfurt, Germany

Died: March 22, 1832

Regarded as the greatest literary figure in Germany's modern era, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe was a statesman and writer. Apart from writing poetry and prose, he also wrote treatises on color, anatomy, and botany. Thanks to his literary genius, Goethe was made part of the Duke's privy council in Weimar and he implemented several reforms at the University of Jena.

 32 

(Philosopher, Writer, & Composer Whose Political Philosophy Influenced the Progress of the Age of Enlightenment)

Birthdate: June 28, 1712

Sun Sign: Cancer

Birthplace: Geneva, Switzerland

Died: July 2, 1778

Jean-Jacques Rousseau was a Genevan philosopher, composer, and writer. His political philosophy influenced aspects of the French Revolution. He also helped develop modern economic, political, and educational thought. His writing inspired a transformation in French drama and poetry. His works also influenced such writers around the world as Tolstoy. His works as a composer were acknowledged by composers like Mozart.

Birthdate: May 23, 1707

Sun Sign: Gemini

Birthplace: Linnés Råshults Stiftelse, Älmhult Municipality, Sweden

Died: January 10, 1778

Swedish botanist and lecturer Carl Linnaeus, who established the concept of binomial nomenclature, or the system of naming organisms, is also known as the father of modern taxonomy. His system of classification is known as Linnaean taxonomy. He was the first to include humans and apes under the header Anthropomorpha.

Birthdate: April 30, 1777

Sun Sign: Taurus

Birthplace: Brunswick, Germany

Died: February 23, 1855

German mathematician and physicist Carl Friedrich Gauss is remembered for his work in math and science. Known as the Princeps mathematicorum, he laid down tenets such as the Gauss's Law. He had exhibited his talent since an early age and had completed writing Disquisitiones Arithmeticae by 21.

Birthdate: November 24, 1784

Sun Sign: Sagittarius

Birthplace: Barboursville, Virginia, United States

Died: July 9, 1850

Zachary Taylor was the 12th U.S. president, from March 1849 till his death in July 1850, thus spending just 16 months in office. His heroism in the Mexican–American War had earned him the title of major general. A novice in political affairs, he was the last president who owned slaves.

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(American Frontiersman and One of the First Folk Heroes of the United States)

Birthdate: November 2, 1734

Sun Sign: Scorpio

Birthplace: Pennsylvania, United States

Died: September 26, 1820

Daniel Boone was an American pioneer, woodsman, explorer, and frontiersman. His exploits as an American frontier made him one of the earliest folk heroes of the US. Widely regarded as the founder of Kentucky, Daniel Boone is popular for his exploration and settlement of Kentucky. His life and work have inspired several movies, such as the 1936 movie Daniel Boone.

Birthdate: January 29, 1737

Sun Sign: Aquarius

Birthplace: Thetford, England

Died: June 8, 1809

English-born American political activist, philosopher, and revolutionary, Thomas Paine, is credited to have penned some of the most influential pamphlets at the start of the American Revolution. His works inspired the common people of America and motivated them to fight for independence from British rule. He was ostracized for criticizing Christianity and died a lonely man.

Birthdate: June 4, 1738

Sun Sign: Gemini

Birthplace: London, England

Died: January 29, 1820

The King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland for almost six decades, George III had a reign that was longer than those of any of his predecessors. His reign was marked by a series of military conflicts. He suffered from mental illness in his later years.

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(Baroque Composer & Virtuoso Violinist Known for His Violin Concertos 'The Four Seasons')

Birthdate: March 4, 1678

Sun Sign: Pisces

Birthplace: Venice, Italy

Died: July 28, 1741

Italian Baroque composer, virtuoso violinist, and teacher, Antonio Lucio Vivaldi, is regarded as one of the greatest Baroque composers. He was extremely popular during his lifetime and composed many instrumental concertos and operas. He was also a Roman Catholic priest and worked at a home for abandoned children. Even though he died in 1741, his music continues to be popular.

Birthdate: April 15, 1707

Sun Sign: Aries

Birthplace: Basel

Died: September 18, 1783

Leonhard Euler was a Swiss physicist, mathematician, logician, geographer, astronomer, and engineer. He is credited with making influential and important mathematical discoveries, such as graph theory and infinitesimal calculus. Widely regarded as one of the greatest and most prolific mathematicians of all time, Leonhard Euler also made pioneering contributions to analytic number theory and topology.

Birthdate: December 26, 1791

Sun Sign: Capricorn

Birthplace: London, England

Died: October 18, 1871

Charles Babbage, or the “father of the computer,” invented the prototype of the world’s first mechanical calculator, the Difference Engine. With the help of mathematician Ada Lovelace, he also created the Analytical Engine, the first general-purpose computer and a precursor of the modern computer, with its looping and sequential mechanism.

Birthdate: November 10, 1683

Sun Sign: Scorpio

Birthplace: Hanover, Germany

Died: October 25, 1760

George II was the king of Great Britain from 1727 to 1760. He had negligible control over his country’s policies, as the Parliament took most of the significant decisions back then. His participation in the 1743 Battle of Dettingen made him the last British monarch to fight in a battle.

Birthdate: February 20, 1756

Sun Sign: Pisces

Birthplace: Albany, New York, United States

Died: March 6, 1814

A charming socialite, Angelica Schuyler Church was the daughter of Continental Army General, Philip Schuyler, and wife of British MP, John Barker Church. During her lifetime, she interacted with and created lasting friendship with numerous personalities, from revolutionaries to artists and politicians, like Edmund Burke, Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson. She has been portrayed in the acclaimed Broadway musical Hamilton.

Birthdate: August 23, 1754

Sun Sign: Virgo

Birthplace: Palace of Versailles, Versailles, France

Died: January 21, 1793

Louis XVI of France reigned as the last king of France from 1774 to 1792 before the French Revolution, which ended the monarchy in France. During his reign, Louis made attempts to remove land and labor tax, abolish serfdom, and improve tolerance toward non-Catholics. However, the proposed reforms were opposed by the French nobility.

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(German-British Composer Known for His Works: ‘Water Music’ and ‘Music for the Royal Fireworks’)

Birthdate: February 23, 1685

Sun Sign: Pisces

Birthplace: Halle (Saale), Germany

Died: April 14, 1759

George Frideric Handel was a Baroque composer renowned for his oratorios, operas, anthems, and organ concertos. A great composer, Handel's works had a strong influence on popular Classical-era composers like Beethoven and Mozart. George Frideric Handel's life and work have also inspired several films, such as the 1942 British biographical film The Great Mr. Handel.

 46 

(American Political Philosopher and 4th Governor of Massachusetts (1794–1797))

Birthdate: September 27, 1722

Sun Sign: Libra

Birthplace: Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Died: October 2, 1803

Samuel Adams, one of the Founding Fathers of the United States, also served as the governor of Massachusetts. Samuel formed the Boston Tea Party and also played a major role in drafting the Articles of Confederation and the Massachusetts Constitution. He was a second cousin of President John Adams.

Birthdate: September 29, 1758

Sun Sign: Libra

Birthplace: Burnham Thorpe

Died: October 21, 1805

Horatio Nelson was a British flag officer whose inspirational leadership brought about several British naval victories, especially during the Napoleonic Wars. Regarded as one of Britain's heroic figures, Horatio Nelson's legacy remains influential and several monuments, including the Nelson Monument and Nelson's Column, have been created in his memory.

Birthdate: May 13, 1717

Sun Sign: Taurus

Birthplace: Vienna, Austria

Died: November 29, 1780

The mother of 16 children, Maria Theresa was the only female monarch of the Habsburg empire which she ruled with absolute power. She was known for industrial and educational reforms which led to the development of Austria during her 40-year reign. The devout Roman Catholic, who overtly disliked Jews and the Protestants, was sometimes criticized for her religious intolerance.

Birthdate: September 5, 1638

Sun Sign: Virgo

Birthplace: Saint-Germain-en-Laye, France

Died: September 1, 1715

Louis XIV of France reigned as the King of France from 1643 to 1715. Louis XIV is the longest-reigning monarch of a sovereign country in the history of Europe. Under his rule, France often asserted its military prowess and emerged as the most dominant European monarchy. His life inspired several films, such as The Taking of Power by Louis XIV.

Birthdate: January 23, 1737

Sun Sign: Aquarius

Birthplace: Braintree, Massachusetts, United States

Died: October 8, 1793

Merchant and statesman, John Hancock, served as the president of the Second Continental Congress and was the first to sign the Declaration of Independence in 1776, owing to this position. A rich man, he used his wealth to support the colonial cause during the American Revolution. He also used his influence to ratify the United States Constitution in 1788.