Who Was Alive in 1788

Benjamin FranklinAge 82

1706–1790 · Science & Invention

Founding Father, electricity experiments

Immanuel KantAge 64

1724–1804 · Philosophy & Thought

Critique of Pure Reason

Catherine the GreatAge 59

1729–1796 · Politics & Leadership

Empress who expanded Russia

George WashingtonAge 56

1732–1799 · Politics & Leadership

First US President

James WattAge 52

1736–1819 · Science & Invention

Improved the steam engine

Thomas JeffersonAge 45

1743–1826 · Politics & Leadership

Author of the Declaration of Independence

Toussaint LouvertureAge 45

1743–1803 · Politics & Leadership

Leader of the Haitian Revolution

Francisco GoyaAge 42

1746–1828 · Art

Spanish Romantic painter

Edward JennerAge 39

1749–1823 · Science & Invention

Pioneer of the smallpox vaccine

Marie AntoinetteAge 33

1755–1793 · Politics & Leadership

Queen of France, executed in the Revolution

Wolfgang Amadeus MozartAge 32

1756–1791 · Music

Musical prodigy, symphonies & operas

Mary WollstonecraftAge 29

1759–1797 · Philosophy & Thought

Vindication of the Rights of Woman, feminist pioneer

HokusaiAge 28

1760–1849 · Art

The Great Wave, Japanese master printmaker

Napoleon BonaparteAge 19

1769–1821 · Politics & Leadership

Emperor of France, military genius

Ludwig van BeethovenAge 18

1770–1827 · Music

Symphonies composed while going deaf

Jane AustenAge 13

1775–1817 · Literature

Pride and Prejudice

Niccolò PaganiniAge 6

1782–1840 · Music

Virtuoso violinist, the Devil's violinist

Simón BolívarAge 5

1783–1830 · Politics & Leadership

Liberator of South America

Jacob GrimmAge 3

1785–1863 · Literature

Grimm's Fairy Tales

Shaka ZuluAge 1

1787–1828 · Politics & Leadership

Founder of the Zulu Kingdom