Who Was Alive in 1744

Johann Sebastian BachAge 59

1685–1750 · Music

Master of Baroque composition

George Frideric HandelAge 59

1685–1759 · Music

Messiah oratorio

VoltaireAge 50

1694–1778 · Philosophy & Thought

Enlightenment writer and philosopher

Benjamin FranklinAge 38

1706–1790 · Science & Invention

Founding Father, electricity experiments

Carl LinnaeusAge 37

1707–1778 · Science & Invention

Father of modern taxonomy

Immanuel KantAge 20

1724–1804 · Philosophy & Thought

Critique of Pure Reason

Captain James CookAge 16

1728–1779 · Exploration

Mapped the Pacific, reached Australia

Catherine the GreatAge 15

1729–1796 · Politics & Leadership

Empress who expanded Russia

George WashingtonAge 12

1732–1799 · Politics & Leadership

First US President

James WattAge 8

1736–1819 · Science & Invention

Improved the steam engine

Thomas JeffersonAge 1

1743–1826 · Politics & Leadership

Author of the Declaration of Independence

Toussaint LouvertureAge 1

1743–1803 · Politics & Leadership

Leader of the Haitian Revolution