Historical figures · Puzzle #16 · Thursday, October 15

Historical figures: the board

Eight items, eight categories, one place each. Here is the board with every figure and where it comes from, and the best way to place them. Play today's Historical figures.

The categories

Ancient history: 1 pt per doubling over 2 years since birth
Much studied: 1 pt per 8 works about them
Known worldwide: 1 pt per 25 Wikipedia languages
Most looked-up: 1 pt per 400,000 Wikipedia views in 2025
Nobel laureate: 10 pts if they won a Nobel Prize
Decorated: 1 pt per 2 awards and honors
Namesake: 1 pt per 20 things named after them
Born in Europe: 10 pts if born in Europe

The best board

The best board is hidden while some of these items are still in play: they're on a board again within 14 days.

The lineup, figure by figure

Robin Williams
Comedian and star of Mrs. Doubtfire
Photo: Eva Rinaldi, CC BY-SA 2.0
Robin Williams's best fit on this board was Most looked-up, worth 10.0: their Wikipedia article was read 4.87 million times in 2025. Their weakest was Nobel laureate, worth 0.0, since Robin Williams never won a Nobel Prize.
Ancient history
was born 75 years ago (5.2) Source: Wikidata Q83338
Much studied
is the subject of 5 books, papers and films on Wikidata (0.6) Source: Wikidata Q83338
Known worldwide
Wikipedia has an article on them in 161 languages (6.4) Source: Wikidata Q83338
Most looked-up
their Wikipedia article was read 4.87 million times in 2025 (10.0) Source: Wikimedia pageviews, 2025
Nobel laureate
never won a Nobel Prize (0.0) Source: Wikidata Q83338
Decorated
received 16 awards and honors (8.0) Source: Wikidata Q83338
Namesake
has 1 things named after them on Wikidata (0.1) Source: Wikidata Q83338
Born in Europe
wasn't born in Europe (0.0) Source: Wikidata Q83338
Joseph Haydn
Father of the symphony and the string quartet
Photo: Thomas Hardy, Public domain
On this board Joseph Haydn scored best in Born in Europe (10.0): Joseph Haydn was born in Europe. Nobel laureate was their weakest fit (0.0): Joseph Haydn never won a Nobel Prize.
Ancient history
was born 294 years ago (7.2) Source: Wikidata Q7349
Much studied
is the subject of 26 books, papers and films on Wikidata (3.3) Source: Wikidata Q7349
Known worldwide
Wikipedia has an article on them in 158 languages (6.3) Source: Wikidata Q7349
Most looked-up
their Wikipedia article was read 359,347 times in 2025 (0.9) Source: Wikimedia pageviews, 2025
Nobel laureate
never won a Nobel Prize (0.0) Source: Wikidata Q7349
Decorated
received 1 awards and honors (0.5) Source: Wikidata Q7349
Namesake
has 134 things named after them on Wikidata (6.7) Source: Wikidata Q7349
Born in Europe
was born in Europe (10.0) Source: Wikidata Q7349
Carl Sagan
Astronomer and host of Cosmos
Photo: NASA/JPL, Public domain
Carl Sagan received 20 awards and honors, so their best fit on this board was Decorated, worth 10.0. Their weakest was Nobel laureate, worth 0.0, since Carl Sagan never won a Nobel Prize.
Ancient history
was born 92 years ago (5.5) Source: Wikidata Q410
Much studied
is the subject of 2 books, papers and films on Wikidata (0.3) Source: Wikidata Q410
Known worldwide
Wikipedia has an article on them in 143 languages (5.7) Source: Wikidata Q410
Most looked-up
their Wikipedia article was read 1.1 million times in 2025 (2.8) Source: Wikimedia pageviews, 2025
Nobel laureate
never won a Nobel Prize (0.0) Source: Wikidata Q410
Decorated
received 20 awards and honors (10.0) Source: Wikidata Q410
Namesake
has 14 things named after them on Wikidata (0.7) Source: Wikidata Q410
Born in Europe
wasn't born in Europe (0.0) Source: Wikidata Q410
Laozi
Sage of the Tao Te Ching
Photo: Zhang Lu, Public domain
Its figures are hidden while it's still in play: it's on a board again within 14 days.
Vincent van Gogh
Painter of The Starry Night and Sunflowers
Photo: Vincent van Gogh, CC BY-SA 4.0
Its figures are hidden while it's still in play: it's on a board again within 14 days.
Michelangelo
Sculpted David, painted the Sistine ceiling
Photo: Attributed to Daniele da Volterra, Public domain
Its figures are hidden while it's still in play: it's on a board again within 14 days.
Theodore Roosevelt
Rough Rider president, namesake of the teddy bear
Photo: Adam Cuerden, Public domain
On this board Theodore Roosevelt scored best in Most looked-up (10.0): their Wikipedia article was read 4.07 million times in 2025. Born in Europe was their weakest fit (0.0): Theodore Roosevelt wasn't born in Europe.
Ancient history
was born 168 years ago (6.4) Source: Wikidata Q33866
Much studied
is the subject of 31 books, papers and films on Wikidata (3.9) Source: Wikidata Q33866
Known worldwide
Wikipedia has an article on them in 192 languages (7.7) Source: Wikidata Q33866
Most looked-up
their Wikipedia article was read 4.07 million times in 2025 (10.0) Source: Wikimedia pageviews, 2025
Nobel laureate
won a Nobel Prize (10.0) Source: Wikidata Q33866
Decorated
received 6 awards and honors (3.0) Source: Wikidata Q33866
Namesake
has 60 things named after them on Wikidata (3.0) Source: Wikidata Q33866
Born in Europe
wasn't born in Europe (0.0) Source: Wikidata Q33866
Steve Jobs
Co-founder of Apple, launcher of the iPhone
Photo: MetalGearLiquid, based on File:Steve_Jobs_Headshot_2010-CROP.jpg made by Matt Yohe, CC BY-SA 3.0
On this board Steve Jobs scored best in Most looked-up (10.0): their Wikipedia article was read 4.54 million times in 2025. Nobel laureate was their weakest fit (0.0): Steve Jobs never won a Nobel Prize.
Ancient history
was born 71 years ago (5.1) Source: Wikidata Q19837
Much studied
is the subject of 19 books, papers and films on Wikidata (2.4) Source: Wikidata Q19837
Known worldwide
Wikipedia has an article on them in 231 languages (9.2) Source: Wikidata Q19837
Most looked-up
their Wikipedia article was read 4.54 million times in 2025 (10.0) Source: Wikimedia pageviews, 2025
Nobel laureate
never won a Nobel Prize (0.0) Source: Wikidata Q19837
Decorated
received 7 awards and honors (3.5) Source: Wikidata Q19837
Namesake
has 8 things named after them on Wikidata (0.4) Source: Wikidata Q19837
Born in Europe
wasn't born in Europe (0.0) Source: Wikidata Q19837