Who Was Alive in 1747

Johann Sebastian BachAge 62

1685–1750 · Music

Master of Baroque composition

George Frideric HandelAge 62

1685–1759 · Music

Messiah oratorio

VoltaireAge 53

1694–1778 · Philosophy & Thought

Enlightenment writer and philosopher

Benjamin FranklinAge 41

1706–1790 · Science & Invention

Founding Father, electricity experiments

Carl LinnaeusAge 40

1707–1778 · Science & Invention

Father of modern taxonomy

Immanuel KantAge 23

1724–1804 · Philosophy & Thought

Critique of Pure Reason

Captain James CookAge 19

1728–1779 · Exploration

Mapped the Pacific, reached Australia

Catherine the GreatAge 18

1729–1796 · Politics & Leadership

Empress who expanded Russia

George WashingtonAge 15

1732–1799 · Politics & Leadership

First US President

James WattAge 11

1736–1819 · Science & Invention

Improved the steam engine

Thomas JeffersonAge 4

1743–1826 · Politics & Leadership

Author of the Declaration of Independence

Toussaint LouvertureAge 4

1743–1803 · Politics & Leadership

Leader of the Haitian Revolution

Francisco GoyaAge 1

1746–1828 · Art

Spanish Romantic painter