Who Was Alive in 1753

George Frideric HandelAge 68

1685–1759 · Music

Messiah oratorio

VoltaireAge 59

1694–1778 · Philosophy & Thought

Enlightenment writer and philosopher

Benjamin FranklinAge 47

1706–1790 · Science & Invention

Founding Father, electricity experiments

Carl LinnaeusAge 46

1707–1778 · Science & Invention

Father of modern taxonomy

Immanuel KantAge 29

1724–1804 · Philosophy & Thought

Critique of Pure Reason

Captain James CookAge 25

1728–1779 · Exploration

Mapped the Pacific, reached Australia

Catherine the GreatAge 24

1729–1796 · Politics & Leadership

Empress who expanded Russia

George WashingtonAge 21

1732–1799 · Politics & Leadership

First US President

James WattAge 17

1736–1819 · Science & Invention

Improved the steam engine

Thomas JeffersonAge 10

1743–1826 · Politics & Leadership

Author of the Declaration of Independence

Toussaint LouvertureAge 10

1743–1803 · Politics & Leadership

Leader of the Haitian Revolution

Francisco GoyaAge 7

1746–1828 · Art

Spanish Romantic painter

Edward JennerAge 4

1749–1823 · Science & Invention

Pioneer of the smallpox vaccine