Who Was Alive in 1742

Johann Sebastian BachAge 57

1685–1750 · Music

Master of Baroque composition

George Frideric HandelAge 57

1685–1759 · Music

Messiah oratorio

VoltaireAge 48

1694–1778 · Philosophy & Thought

Enlightenment writer and philosopher

Benjamin FranklinAge 36

1706–1790 · Science & Invention

Founding Father, electricity experiments

Carl LinnaeusAge 35

1707–1778 · Science & Invention

Father of modern taxonomy

Immanuel KantAge 18

1724–1804 · Philosophy & Thought

Critique of Pure Reason

Captain James CookAge 14

1728–1779 · Exploration

Mapped the Pacific, reached Australia

Catherine the GreatAge 13

1729–1796 · Politics & Leadership

Empress who expanded Russia

George WashingtonAge 10

1732–1799 · Politics & Leadership

First US President

James WattAge 6

1736–1819 · Science & Invention

Improved the steam engine