TIMELINER

History's most surprising connections

Who Was Alive in 1781

16 of 328 historical figures were alive in 1781

Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin FranklinAge 75
1706–1790 · Science & Invention
Founding Father, electricity experiments
Immanuel Kant
Immanuel KantAge 57
1724–1804 · Philosophy & Thought
Critique of Pure Reason
Catherine the Great
Catherine the GreatAge 52
1729–1796 · Politics & Leadership
Empress who expanded Russia
George Washington
George WashingtonAge 49
1732–1799 · Politics & Leadership
First US President
James Watt
James WattAge 45
1736–1819 · Science & Invention
Improved the steam engine
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas JeffersonAge 38
1743–1826 · Politics & Leadership
Author of the Declaration of Independence
Toussaint Louverture
Toussaint LouvertureAge 38
1743–1803 · Politics & Leadership
Leader of the Haitian Revolution
Francisco Goya
Francisco GoyaAge 35
1746–1828 · Art
Spanish Romantic painter
Edward Jenner
Edward JennerAge 32
1749–1823 · Science & Invention
Pioneer of the smallpox vaccine
Marie Antoinette
Marie AntoinetteAge 26
1755–1793 · Politics & Leadership
Queen of France, executed in the Revolution
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Wolfgang Amadeus MozartAge 25
1756–1791 · Music
Musical prodigy, symphonies & operas
Mary Wollstonecraft
Mary WollstonecraftAge 22
1759–1797 · Philosophy & Thought
Vindication of the Rights of Woman, feminist pioneer
Hokusai
HokusaiAge 21
1760–1849 · Art
The Great Wave, Japanese master printmaker
Napoleon Bonaparte
Napoleon BonaparteAge 12
1769–1821 · Politics & Leadership
Emperor of France, military genius
Ludwig van Beethoven
Ludwig van BeethovenAge 11
1770–1827 · Music
Symphonies composed while going deaf
Jane Austen
Jane AustenAge 6
1775–1817 · Literature
Pride and Prejudice
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