Who Was Alive in 1756

George Frideric HandelAge 71

1685–1759 · Music

Messiah oratorio

VoltaireAge 62

1694–1778 · Philosophy & Thought

Enlightenment writer and philosopher

Benjamin FranklinAge 50

1706–1790 · Science & Invention

Founding Father, electricity experiments

Carl LinnaeusAge 49

1707–1778 · Science & Invention

Father of modern taxonomy

Immanuel KantAge 32

1724–1804 · Philosophy & Thought

Critique of Pure Reason

Captain James CookAge 28

1728–1779 · Exploration

Mapped the Pacific, reached Australia

Catherine the GreatAge 27

1729–1796 · Politics & Leadership

Empress who expanded Russia

George WashingtonAge 24

1732–1799 · Politics & Leadership

First US President

James WattAge 20

1736–1819 · Science & Invention

Improved the steam engine

Thomas JeffersonAge 13

1743–1826 · Politics & Leadership

Author of the Declaration of Independence

Toussaint LouvertureAge 13

1743–1803 · Politics & Leadership

Leader of the Haitian Revolution

Francisco GoyaAge 10

1746–1828 · Art

Spanish Romantic painter

Edward JennerAge 7

1749–1823 · Science & Invention

Pioneer of the smallpox vaccine

Marie AntoinetteAge 1

1755–1793 · Politics & Leadership

Queen of France, executed in the Revolution

Wolfgang Amadeus MozartAge 0

1756–1791 · Music

Musical prodigy, symphonies & operas