Who Was Alive in 1759

George Frideric HandelAge 74

1685–1759 · Music

Messiah oratorio

VoltaireAge 65

1694–1778 · Philosophy & Thought

Enlightenment writer and philosopher

Benjamin FranklinAge 53

1706–1790 · Science & Invention

Founding Father, electricity experiments

Carl LinnaeusAge 52

1707–1778 · Science & Invention

Father of modern taxonomy

Immanuel KantAge 35

1724–1804 · Philosophy & Thought

Critique of Pure Reason

Captain James CookAge 31

1728–1779 · Exploration

Mapped the Pacific, reached Australia

Catherine the GreatAge 30

1729–1796 · Politics & Leadership

Empress who expanded Russia

George WashingtonAge 27

1732–1799 · Politics & Leadership

First US President

James WattAge 23

1736–1819 · Science & Invention

Improved the steam engine

Thomas JeffersonAge 16

1743–1826 · Politics & Leadership

Author of the Declaration of Independence

Toussaint LouvertureAge 16

1743–1803 · Politics & Leadership

Leader of the Haitian Revolution

Francisco GoyaAge 13

1746–1828 · Art

Spanish Romantic painter

Edward JennerAge 10

1749–1823 · Science & Invention

Pioneer of the smallpox vaccine

Marie AntoinetteAge 4

1755–1793 · Politics & Leadership

Queen of France, executed in the Revolution

Wolfgang Amadeus MozartAge 3

1756–1791 · Music

Musical prodigy, symphonies & operas

Mary WollstonecraftAge 0

1759–1797 · Philosophy & Thought

Vindication of the Rights of Woman, feminist pioneer