Historical figures · Puzzle #30 · Thursday, October 29

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
Born in Europe: 10 pts if born in Europe
Out of this world: 10 pts if a crater is named after them
Namesake: 1 pt per 20 things named after them
Portrait sitter: 1 pt per 8 works that depict them
Far from home: 1 pt per doubling over 4 miles from birthplace
Most looked-up: 1 pt per 400,000 Wikipedia views in 2025

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

Freddie Mercury
Queen's frontman, voice of Bohemian Rhapsody
Photo: Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain
Its figures are hidden while it's still in play: it's on a board again within 14 days.
Elvis Presley
The King of Rock and Roll
Photo: MGM, Public domain
Its figures are hidden while it's still in play: it's on a board again within 14 days.
Jules Verne
Author of Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas
Photo: Nadar, Public domain
Its figures are hidden while it's still in play: it's on a board again within 14 days.
Abraham Lincoln
President who gave the Gettysburg Address
Photo: Alexander Gardner, Public domain
Its figures are hidden while it's still in play: it's on a board again within 14 days.
Charlemagne
Crowned Emperor of the Romans on Christmas Day
Photo: Charlemagne. Autorité émettrice de monnaie indéterminé. Atelier monétaire. Émetteur, Public domain
On this board Charlemagne scored best in Born in Europe (10.0): Charlemagne was born in Europe. Out of this world was their weakest fit (0.0): Charlemagne has no crater named after them.
Ancient history
was born 1,279 years ago (9.3) Source: Wikidata Q3044
Much studied
is the subject of 62 books, papers and films on Wikidata (7.8) Source: Wikidata Q3044
Born in Europe
was born in Europe (10.0) Source: Wikidata Q3044
Out of this world
has no crater named after them (0.0) Source: Wikidata Q3044
Namesake
has 79 things named after them on Wikidata (4.0) Source: Wikidata Q3044
Portrait sitter
appears in 32 paintings, statues, films and more on Wikidata (4.0) Source: Wikidata Q3044
Far from home
died 244 miles from where they were born (5.9) Source: Wikidata Q3044
Most looked-up
their Wikipedia article was read 2.18 million times in 2025 (5.5) Source: Wikimedia pageviews, 2025
Grace Kelly
Film star who became a princess
Photo: Hans Peters for Anefo, CC0
On this board Grace Kelly scored best in Far from home (10.0): Grace Kelly died 4,075 miles from where they were born. Born in Europe was their weakest fit (0.0): Grace Kelly wasn't born in Europe.
Ancient history
was born 97 years ago (5.6) Source: Wikidata Q3925
Much studied
is the subject of 4 books, papers and films on Wikidata (0.5) Source: Wikidata Q3925
Born in Europe
wasn't born in Europe (0.0) Source: Wikidata Q3925
Out of this world
has no crater named after them (0.0) Source: Wikidata Q3925
Namesake
has 15 things named after them on Wikidata (0.8) Source: Wikidata Q3925
Portrait sitter
appears in 0 paintings, statues, films and more on Wikidata (0.0) Source: Wikidata Q3925
Far from home
died 4,075 miles from where they were born (10.0) Source: Wikidata Q3925
Most looked-up
their Wikipedia article was read 2.1 million times in 2025 (5.3) Source: Wikimedia pageviews, 2025
Abel Tasman
First European to reach Tasmania and New Zealand
Photo: Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain
Abel Tasman was born in Europe, so their best fit on this board was Born in Europe, worth 10.0. Their weakest was Out of this world, worth 0.0, since Abel Tasman has no crater named after them.
Ancient history
was born 423 years ago (7.7) Source: Wikidata Q42188
Much studied
is the subject of 10 books, papers and films on Wikidata (1.3) Source: Wikidata Q42188
Born in Europe
was born in Europe (10.0) Source: Wikidata Q42188
Out of this world
has no crater named after them (0.0) Source: Wikidata Q42188
Namesake
has 95 things named after them on Wikidata (4.8) Source: Wikidata Q42188
Portrait sitter
appears in 0 paintings, statues, films and more on Wikidata (0.0) Source: Wikidata Q42188
Far from home
died 6,997 miles from where they were born (10.0) Source: Wikidata Q42188
Most looked-up
their Wikipedia article was read 157,401 times in 2025 (0.4) Source: Wikimedia pageviews, 2025
Mahatma Gandhi
Led a nation to independence through nonviolence
Photo: Elliott & Fry, Public domain
Its figures are hidden while it's still in play: it's on a board again within 14 days.