List Of Famous People Of The 19th Century

The 19th century was a period marked by major political upheavals in several parts of the world. The era also witnessed increased industrialization and fast development of science and technology. The century is however best remembered as the era which witnessed the birth of some of the greatest—and most notorious—political figures to have ever emerged in human history. On one hand, the much revered pacifist Mahatma Gandhi was born in India during this century, while continents away, the would-be dictator and Nazi leader Adolf Hitler took birth in Europe. The 19th century also saw rampant war, widespread violence, and systematic abuse of certain sections of the society. This in turn gave birth to social rights activists, civil rights activists, and feminists like Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, Harriet Beecher Stowe, and Margaret Fuller who fought for the betterment of the society. Great scientists like Albert Einstein, Marie Curie, Thomas Edison, and Louis Pasteur were also born in this century as were the famous writers Charles Dickens, Walt Whitman, Oscar Wilde, and Emily Bronte. Read on to learn more about the life and works of famous people of the 19th century.

Vote for Your Favourite People Of The 19th Century

Right IconThis ranking is based on an algorithm that combines various factors, including the votes of our users and search trends on the internet.

Birthdate: February 12, 1809

Sun Sign: Aquarius

Birthplace: Larue County, Kentucky, United States

Died: April 15, 1865

A self-educated lawyer, Abraham Lincoln rose from modest background to become one of the greatest presidents of America. The 16th president of the country, who is also known as Honest Abe and the Great Emancipator, played a crucial role in establishing a truly democratic government, abolished slavery, modernised economy and led the country during the American Civil War.

 2 

(One of the Greatest Physicists of All Time, Best Known for Developing the Theory of Relativity)

Birthdate: March 14, 1879

Sun Sign: Pisces

Birthplace: Ulm, Germany

Died: April 18, 1955

Deemed as the most influential physicist of the 20th century, the German-born physicist Albert Einstein was one of the greatest minds to have ever lived. Even his name is now synonymous with the term genius. The father of Modern Physics is credited with developing the theory of relativity and explaining the photoelectric effect. The latter won him the Nobel Prize.

 3 

(Inventor, Engineer & Futurist, Who Obtained Over 300 Patents)

Birthdate: July 10, 1856

Sun Sign: Cancer

Birthplace: Smiljan, Croatia

Died: January 7, 1943

Inventor, engineer and futurist, Nikola Tesla, is best remembered for his contribution to the development of the modern alternating current (AC) electricity supply system. A prolific inventor, he had around 300 patents for his inventions. Even though he earned a considerable amount of money, he had poor money management skills and died a poor man.

Birthdate: January 11, 1755

Sun Sign: Capricorn

Birthplace: Charlestown, Saint Kitts and Nevis

Died: July 12, 1804

Known as America’s one of the most influential Founding Fathers, Alexander Hamilton was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention and served as the first secretary of the treasury. He also fought in the American Revolutionary War and was considered as a leading votary of the strong central government.

Birthdate: March 30, 1853

Sun Sign: Aries

Birthplace: Zundert, Netherlands

Died: July 29, 1890

Vincent van Gogh was a Dutch post-impressionist painter and is said to be one of the most famous and influential figures in the history of Western art. However, he was not commercially successful in his lifetime and died by suicide at 37 after years of mental health issues and poverty. He gained recognition and respect in the 20th century.

Birthdate: October 27, 1858

Sun Sign: Scorpio

Birthplace: New York, United States

Died: January 6, 1919

The 26th president of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt is generally ranked as one of the five best presidents of the country. A man of many talents, he was a politician, conservationist, naturalist, and writer. He supported  Progressive Era policies in the early 20th century and championed his "Square Deal" domestic policies.

Birthdate: November 30, 1874

Sun Sign: Sagittarius

Birthplace: Blenheim Palace, England, United Kingdom

Died: January 24, 1965

The former Prime Minister of the United Kingdoms, Winston Churchill, is known for successfully leading his country during the Second World War against the Nazi Germany. An officer in the British army, he also served as a war correspondent before venturing into politics. One of the most influential peoples in British history, Churchill was also an accomplished painter.

Birthdate: August 15, 1769

Sun Sign: Leo

Birthplace: Ajaccio, France

Died: May 5, 1821

French military leader Napoleon Bonaparte ruled as the French emperor from 1804 to 1814 and again in 1815. He strengthened France’s position in Europe through the Napoleonic Wars and extended his kingdom. However, he was eventually defeated by the Seventh Coalition at the Battle of Waterloo and sent to exile. 

Birthdate: November 7, 1867

Sun Sign: Scorpio

Birthplace: Warsaw, Poland

Died: July 4, 1934

Amongst the most notable scientists of her time, the first woman to win a Nobel Prize, the sole person to win two Nobel Prize in two different category, and the first woman professor at the University of Paris—Marie Curie’s list of achievements is incredible. She did extensive research in the field of radioactivity and discovered polonium and radium.

Birthdate: April 13, 1743

Sun Sign: Aries

Birthplace: Shadwell, Virginia, United States

Died: July 4, 1826

The 2nd Vice President and the 3rd President of America, Thomas Jefferson was one of the Founding Fathers of USA and the principal draftsman of the Declaration of Independence. Jefferson was a staunch advocate of democracy and a strong believer of individual rights and religious freedom, despite the fact that he himself owned nearly 600 slaves.

 11 

(One of the Most Influential Artists of the 20th Century and Co-Founder of the 'Cubist Movement')

Birthdate: October 25, 1881

Sun Sign: Scorpio

Birthplace: Málaga, Spain

Died: April 8, 1973

Pablo Picasso was a renowned artist whose paintings sell by millions of dollars at auctions even today, many years after his death. With masterful strokes, attractive shades and rich textures, Picasso created some of the most visually impressive arts of the 20th century. While exploring new styles and experimenting with different techniques, Picasso co-founded Cubist art style and co-invented collage.

 12 

(Inventor of Phonograph, Motion Picture Camera and Early Version of the Electric Light Bulb)

Birthdate: February 11, 1847

Sun Sign: Aquarius

Birthplace: Milan, Ohio, United States

Died: October 18, 1931

Described as America’s greatest inventor, Thomas Edison’s legacy is an everlasting one. He was the first to help make the incandescent light bulb commercially viable, even though he was not the first inventor of it. Quadruplex telegraph, phonograph, motion picture camera and the alkaline storage battery are some the many innovations that made him a worldwide phenomenon and an icon.

 13 

(The Greatest Comic Artist Ever & One of the Most Important Figures in Motion-Picture History)

Birthdate: April 16, 1889

Sun Sign: Aries

Birthplace: Walworth, London, England

Died: December 25, 1977

Cinema lovers around the world hold Charlie Chaplin in high esteem. One of the biggest stars of the silent film era and an icon, he left the audience in splits with his comedic performances. Even today, his performances in movies like Modern Times and The Gold Rush are considered classic. The legendary actor was also a writer, director and producer.

 14 

(One of the Most Admired Composers and Pianists in the History of Western Music)

Birthdate: December 17, 1770

Sun Sign: Sagittarius

Birthplace: Bonn, Germany

Died: March 26, 1827

German composer and pianist, Ludwig van Beethoven, remains one of the most admired composers in the history of Western music even two centuries after his death. Born into a musical family, he was initially tutored by his father. He found success early as a pianist and went on to become an admired composer despite suffering from hearing-impairment.

 15 

(American Author and First Deaf-Blind Person to Earn a Bachelor of Arts Degree)

Birthdate: June 27, 1880

Sun Sign: Cancer

Birthplace: Tuscumbia, Alabama, United States

Died: June 1, 1968

A prolific author, having written 12 published books and several articles, Helen Keller was the first deaf-blind person to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree. Her autobiography, The Story of My Life, made Keller famous and was adapted for film and stage. She was also an activist and campaigned for women's suffrage, labour rights, socialism and other such causes.

 16 

(Activist and Abolitionist Known for Her Efforts in Rescuing Slaves and Abolition of Slavery)

Birthdate: 1822

Sun Sign: Pisces

Birthplace: Dorchester County, Maryland, United States

Died: March 10, 1913

Born to parents who were bonded slaves, Harriet Tubman life was a difficult one from the very beginning. Yet with her remarkable courage and determination, she not only escaped slavery herself, but also led other enslaved people to freedom. The prominent political activist and abolitionist was also the first woman to lead an armed expedition during the American Civil War.

 17 

(Writer and Poet - Widely Regarded as a Central Figure of Romanticism in the United States)

Birthdate: January 19, 1809

Sun Sign: Capricorn

Birthplace: Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Died: October 7, 1849

American writer Edgar Allan Poe is regarded as the architect of modern short story, the inventor of the detective-fiction genre and a major contributor towards science fiction genre. The influential writer is recognised for his tales of mystery and macabre. His notable works include The Raven (poem), The Tell-Tale Heart and The Fall of the House of Usher (short stories).

 18 

(One of the Greatest Baseball Players of All Time)

Birthdate: February 6, 1895

Sun Sign: Aquarius

Birthplace: Pigtown, Baltimore, Maryland, United States

Died: August 16, 1948

One of the greatest players in the history of baseball, Babe Ruth played 22 seasons between 1914 and 1935 and set monumental records—including 714 home runs—that took decades to be finally broken. Amongst the most celebrated athletes of the world, he became one of the first five players to be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

Birthdate: May 24, 1819

Sun Sign: Gemini

Birthplace: Kensington Palace, London, United Kingdom

Died: January 22, 1901

The Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland for over six decades, Queen Victoria reigned for longer than any of her predecessors. Her rule witnessed the vast expansion of the British Empire and ushered in a period of industrial, cultural, political, scientific, and military changes. Her Golden and Diamond Jubilees were celebrated with great pomp and show.

 20 

(Naturalist known for His Contributions to Evolutionary Biology)

Birthdate: February 12, 1809

Sun Sign: Aquarius

Birthplace: The Mount House, Shrewsbury, England

Died: April 19, 1882

Widely regarded as one of the most influential personalities in the history of mankind, Charles Darwin was an English biologist, naturalist, and geologist. He is credited with publishing the Theory of Evolution, which explains the evolution of life from a unicellular organism to human beings. A prolific writer, Charles Darwin also wrote important books on plants and barnacles.

Birthdate: April 27, 1822

Sun Sign: Taurus

Birthplace: Point Pleasant, Ohio, United States

Died: July 23, 1885

The 18th president of the United States, Ulysses S. Grant held office from 1869 to 1877. He led the Union Army as Commanding General of the United States Army during the American Civil War and was a war hero. As president, he stabilized the post-war national economy and created the Department of Justice. Historians generally recognize his presidential accomplishments.

Birthdate: February 7, 1812

Sun Sign: Aquarius

Birthplace: Landport, Hampshire, England

Died: June 9, 1870

Widely considered the greatest novelist of the Victorian era, Charles Dickens was an English writer famous for creating world-renowned fictional characters. Regarded by critics and scholars as a literary genius, most of his short stories and novels are read around the world even today. His distinctive style of writing is referred to as Dickensian.

 23 

(Lauded as the 'Greatest Humorist' the United States Has Produced)

Birthdate: November 30, 1835

Sun Sign: Sagittarius

Birthplace: Florida, Missouri, United States

Died: April 21, 1910

Mark Twain, “the father of American literature,” was one of the world’s greatest 19-th century humorists and authors. His novels The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn were drawn from his childhood experiences in Missouri. In his later life, he sunk into bankruptcy and also recovered.

 24 

(The Founder of the ‘Ford Motor Company’)

Birthdate: July 30, 1863

Sun Sign: Leo

Birthplace: Springwells Township, Michigan, United States

Died: April 7, 1947

Business magnate and founder of the Ford Motor Company, Henry Ford is credited to have made the automobile an accessible conveyance for Americans in the 20th century. Following the success of his company, he became one of the richest and best-known people in the world. He also became known for his pacifism during the first years of World War I.

 25 

(One of the Greatest Playwrights of the 'Victorian Era')

Birthdate: October 16, 1854

Sun Sign: Libra

Birthplace: Dublin, Ireland

Died: November 30, 1900

Widely regarded as one of the most popular writers of all time, Oscar Wilde is best remembered for his plays and epigrams. He was also one of the best-known personalities during his time as he was popular for his conversational skills, flamboyant dressing sense, and biting wit. Imprisoned in 1895 for consensual homosexual acts, Oscar Wilde was pardoned posthumously in 2017.

Birthdate: October 15, 1844

Sun Sign: Libra

Birthplace: Röcken, Lützen, Germany

Died: August 25, 1900

German philosopher, cultural critic, composer, and poet Friedrich Nietzsche has had a profound influence on modern intellectual history. He held the Chair of Classical Philology at the University of Basel. His work spanned philosophical polemics, poetry, cultural criticism, and fiction. He suffered from numerous health problems from a young age and died at the age of 55.

 27 

(2nd President of United States (1797-1801))

Birthdate: October 30, 1735

Sun Sign: Scorpio

Birthplace: Braintree, Massachusetts, United States

Died: July 4, 1826

One of the Founding Fathers of America, John Adams was a statesman, attorney, and diplomat who served as the second president of the United States. He was a principal leader of the American Revolution. As a lawyer, he was devoted to the right to counsel and presumption of innocence. His administration has been favorably ranked by historians and scholars.

 28 

(Philosopher & Economist - Famous for His Theory of 'Marxism' )

Birthdate: May 5, 1818

Sun Sign: Taurus

Birthplace: Trier, Germany

Died: March 14, 1883

Karl Marx, the philosopher, economist, political theorist and socialist revolutionary, is best-known for the 1848 pamphlet, The Communist Manifesto and the three-volume Das Kapital. His theories, called Marxism, maintained that class conflict leads to the development of human societies and that internal tension were inherent in capitalism, which would ultimately be replaced by the socialist mode of production.

 29 

(Russian Revolutionary & Politician Who Served as the First Head of Government of Soviet Russia)

Birthdate: April 22, 1870

Sun Sign: Taurus

Birthplace: Ulyanovsk, Russia

Died: January 21, 1924

Vladimir Lenin played a key role in the history of Russian politics by developing a political ideology called Leninism. During and after his lifetime, Lenin had a massive influence over international communist movement. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential and significant personalities of the 20th century.

Birthdate: February 14, 1818

Sun Sign: Aquarius

Birthplace: Talbot County, Maryland, United States

Died: February 20, 1895

Social reformer and abolitionist, Frederick Douglass was a national leader of the abolitionist movement in Massachusetts and New York. Born into slavery, he had a difficult early life. Eventually, he managed to escape and dedicated the rest of his life to promoting the cause of abolition. He was a great orator and writer.

 31 

(Illusionist and Stunt Performer Known for His Sensational Escape Acts)

Birthdate: March 24, 1874

Sun Sign: Aries

Birthplace: Budapest, Hungary

Died: October 31, 1926

Legendary magician Harry Houdini initially worked as a trapeze artist named “Ehrich, the Prince of the Air” and was later known for his iconic stunt of escaping from handcuffs, at times even under water and while buried alive. He died after a blow to the gut damaged his appendix.

 32 

(English Author Best Known for Her Novels: ‘Sense and Sensibility’, ‘Pride and Prejudice’, ‘Mansfield Park’ and ‘Emma’)

Birthdate: December 16, 1775

Sun Sign: Sagittarius

Birthplace: Steventon, Hampshire, England, United Kingdom

Died: July 18, 1817

Considered one of the greatest writers in English history, Jane Austen is best known for her six major novels - Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice, Mansfield Park, Emma, Persuasion and Northanger Abbey. Her writing was set among the British landed gentry and dealt with ordinary people in everyday ordinary situation. The author achieved great fame after her death. 

Birthdate: August 19, 1871

Sun Sign: Leo

Birthplace: Dayton, Ohio, United States

Died: January 30, 1948

Orville Wright was an aviation pioneer who alongside his brother, Wilbur, built and flew the world's first successful motor-operated airplane, the Wright Flyer, a heavier-than-air aircraft. The three-axis control system developed by the brothers remains standard on fixed-wing aircraft of all kinds. Orville also served on the board of the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA).

 34 

(Inventor of Telephone & Co-Founder of 'American Telephone and Telegraph Company (AT&T)')

Birthdate: March 3, 1847

Sun Sign: Pisces

Birthplace: Edinburgh, Scotland

Died: August 2, 1922

Alexander Graham Bell was a scientist, inventor, and engineer. He is credited with inventing the first functional telephone. He is also credited with co-founding America's major telephone company AT&T, which has been going strong since 1885. Bell's later life was marked by his groundbreaking work in aeronautics, hydrofoils, and optical telecommunications. He was also an ardent supporter of compulsory sterilization.

 35 

(Social Reformer & Founder of Modern Nursing and Known as 'The Lady with the Lamp')

Birthdate: May 12, 1820

Sun Sign: Taurus

Birthplace: Florence, Italy

Died: August 13, 1910

The Lady with the Lamp Florence Nightingale is remembered for her relentless efforts in nursing soldiers during the Crimean War. She founded London’s St Thomas' Hospital to train nurses. She also pioneered the use of the polar area diagram and was the first female member of the Royal Statistical Society.

Birthdate: May 6, 1856

Sun Sign: Taurus

Birthplace: Příbor, Czechia

Died: September 23, 1939

Regarded as the father of psychoanalysis, Sigmund Freud was a neurologist. Despite suffering criticism, psychoanalysis remains influential in the fields of psychology and psychiatry; such is the influence Freud has on humanities. Scholars believe that Freud is one of the most influential personalities of the 20th century and that his impact is comparable to that of Marxism and Darwinism.

 37 

(Mayor of Bridgeport, Connecticut from 1875 to 1876)

Birthdate: July 5, 1810

Sun Sign: Cancer

Birthplace: Bethel, Connecticut, United States

Died: April 7, 1891

P. T. Barnum was an American politician, showman, and businessman. He is credited with founding the famous Barnum & Bailey Circus, which ran for 146 years. He is also credited with co-founding the Bridgeport & Port Jefferson Steamboat Company, which is one of the oldest American ferry companies. His life and work have inspired many films, including The Greatest Showman.

Birthdate: December 10, 1815

Sun Sign: Sagittarius

Birthplace: London

Died: November 27, 1852

Ada Lovelace was a mathematician known for her work on the Analytical Engine, a mechanical general-purpose computer proposed by Charles Babbage. Many believe that Lovelace was the first to recognize the potential of computers. It is also believed that she published the first algorithm after realizing that the algorithm could be carried out by a machine like the Analytical Engine.

 39 

(American Lawman and Gambler Best Known for His Involvement in the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral)

Birthdate: March 19, 1848

Sun Sign: Pisces

Birthplace: Monmouth, Illinois, United States

Died: January 13, 1929

A policeman and a gunfighter, Wyatt Earp is most known for his role in one of the most famous gunfights in the American West history - the Gunfight at O.K. Corral against a group of cowboys. The incident inspired numerous films and books that elevated his heroic status. During his life, he also worked as a truck driver and saloonkeeper. 

Birthdate: September 9, 1828

Sun Sign: Virgo

Birthplace: Yasnaya Polyana, Russia

Died: November 20, 1910

Russian writer, Leo Tolstoy, is widely considered as one of the greatest authors ever. After experiencing a profound moral crisis in the 1870s, Tolstoy went through a phase of spiritual awakening, which had a great impact on his subsequent works that incorporated ideas on nonviolent resistance. These works influenced personalities like Mahatma Gandhi, thereby effectively changing the course of history.

Birthdate: April 1, 1815

Sun Sign: Aries

Birthplace: Schönhausen, Germany

Died: July 30, 1898

Otto von Bismarck was a German statesman. Bismarck is credited with masterminding the unification of Germany and served as its first chancellor. He is also credited with creating the first modern welfare state in the world. Regarded as a hero by German nationalists, Otto von Bismarck's life has inspired a couple of TV series.

 42 

(Filipino Nationalist and Writer Who is Considered One of the Greatest Heroes of the Philippines)

Birthdate: June 19, 1861

Sun Sign: Gemini

Birthplace: Calamba, Laguna

Died: December 30, 1896

Jose Rizal was a Filipino polymath and nationalist. An ophthalmologist by profession, Rizal turned towards writing and inspired the Philippine Revolution through his writings. The revolution eventually led to Philippine independence and Rizal became a national hero. His life has inspired several biographical films and TV series.

Birthdate: March 16, 1751

Sun Sign: Pisces

Birthplace: Port Conway, Virginia, United States

Died: June 28, 1836

James Madison played an important role in drafting the US Constitution and the US Bill of Rights and is hailed as the Father of the Constitution. He also co-wrote The Federalist Papers, considered to be a seminal work of political science. As president, he led the country into the 1812 war and historians place him as an above-average president.

Birthdate: August 9, 1757

Sun Sign: Leo

Birthplace: Albany, New York, United States

Died: November 9, 1854

The better half of one of America’s founding fathers, Alexander Hamilton, Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton was involved in her husband’s political career during his lifetime and worked towards protecting his legacy after his death. A social worker, she lent support to multiple charitable causes including establishing New York’s first private orphanage.

Birthdate: February 23, 1868

Sun Sign: Pisces

Birthplace: Great Barrington, Massachusetts, United States

Died: August 27, 1963

W. E. B. Du Bois was an American civil rights activist, sociologist, and Pan-Africanist. Du Bois played an instrumental role in fighting for full civil rights for people of color around the world. A co-founder of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Du Bois also played an important role as the leader of the Niagara Movement.

 46 

(American Poet Who was Known for His Realistic Depictions of Rural Life)

Birthdate: March 26, 1874

Sun Sign: Aries

Birthplace: San Francisco, California, United States

Died: January 29, 1963

Robert Frost was an American poet. An influential poet, Frost was honored with four Pulitzer Prizes for Poetry, the only poet to receive four such awards. One of America's public literary figures, Robert Frost received the Congressional Gold Medal in 1960. His works influenced other poets like Robert Francis, James Wright, Edward Thomas, Richard Wilbur, and Seamus Heaney.

Birthdate: July 8, 1839

Sun Sign: Cancer

Birthplace: Richford, New York, United States

Died: May 23, 1937

Widely regarded as the richest person in modern history and the wealthiest American ever, John D. Rockefeller was a business magnate who founded the Standard Oil Company. He was America’s first billionaire. He also defined the structure of modern philanthropy as the foundations created by him had a major effect on scientific research, medicine, and education.

Birthdate: December 30, 1865

Sun Sign: Capricorn

Birthplace: Mumbai, India

Died: January 18, 1936

English journalist, short-story writer, poet, and novelist Rudyard Kipling is best remembered for his fiction work The Jungle Book. He was born in India and many of his works are inspired by his life in the country. He was one of the most popular English writers in the late 19th and early 20th century.

Birthdate: March 1, 1810

Sun Sign: Pisces

Birthplace: Żelazowa Wola, Poland

Died: October 17, 1849

Romantic Era virtuoso pianist and composer Frédéric Chopin, nicknamed The Poet of the Piano, is remembered as the inventor of the instrumental ballade. The legendary composer mostly created solo piano masterpieces but also experimented with piano concertos and chamber pieces. He was influenced by Bach, Mozart, and Polish folk music.

 50 

(Former PM and President of Democratic Republic of Vietnam)

Birthdate: May 19, 1890

Sun Sign: Taurus

Birthplace: Cụm di tích Hoàng trù, Vietnam

Died: September 2, 1969

Vietnamese Communist revolutionary Hồ Chí Minh led the Việt Minh independence movement and served as North Vietnam’s prime minister, from 1945 to 1955, and president, from 1945 to 1969. He was an integral part of the Vietnam War. South Vietnam’s former capital, Saigon, was later renamed Ho Chi Minh City.