Who Was Alive in 1755

George Frideric HandelAge 70

1685–1759 · Music

Messiah oratorio

VoltaireAge 61

1694–1778 · Philosophy & Thought

Enlightenment writer and philosopher

Benjamin FranklinAge 49

1706–1790 · Science & Invention

Founding Father, electricity experiments

Carl LinnaeusAge 48

1707–1778 · Science & Invention

Father of modern taxonomy

Immanuel KantAge 31

1724–1804 · Philosophy & Thought

Critique of Pure Reason

Captain James CookAge 27

1728–1779 · Exploration

Mapped the Pacific, reached Australia

Catherine the GreatAge 26

1729–1796 · Politics & Leadership

Empress who expanded Russia

George WashingtonAge 23

1732–1799 · Politics & Leadership

First US President

James WattAge 19

1736–1819 · Science & Invention

Improved the steam engine

Thomas JeffersonAge 12

1743–1826 · Politics & Leadership

Author of the Declaration of Independence

Toussaint LouvertureAge 12

1743–1803 · Politics & Leadership

Leader of the Haitian Revolution

Francisco GoyaAge 9

1746–1828 · Art

Spanish Romantic painter

Edward JennerAge 6

1749–1823 · Science & Invention

Pioneer of the smallpox vaccine

Marie AntoinetteAge 0

1755–1793 · Politics & Leadership

Queen of France, executed in the Revolution