Historical figures · Puzzle #38 · Friday, November 6

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

Known worldwide: 1 pt per 25 Wikipedia languages
Namesake: 1 pt per 20 things named after them
Ancient history: 1 pt per doubling over 2 years since birth
Born in Asia: 10 pts if born in Asia
Long life: 1 pt per 5 years lived past 40
Most looked-up: 1 pt per 400,000 Wikipedia views in 2025
Decorated: 1 pt per 2 awards and honors
Born in the Americas: 10 pts if born in the Americas

The best board

Steve Jobs in Most looked-up: their Wikipedia article was read 4.54 million times in 2025 (10.0)
Franz Schubert in Namesake: has 165 things named after them on Wikidata (8.3)
Coco Chanel in Long life: lived to 87 (9.4)
Archimedes in Ancient history: was born 2,313 years ago (10.0)
Akbar in Born in Asia: was born in Asia (10.0)
Aretha Franklin in Decorated: received 24 awards and honors (10.0)
Charles Darwin in Known worldwide: Wikipedia has an article on them in 279 languages (10.0)
Amelia Earhart in Born in the Americas: was born in the Americas (10.0)

The most this board could score: 77.7 of 80.

The lineup, figure by figure

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. Born in Asia was their weakest fit (0.0): Steve Jobs wasn't born in Asia. The best board puts them there too.
Known worldwide
Wikipedia has an article on them in 231 languages (9.2) Source: Wikidata Q19837
Namesake
has 8 things named after them on Wikidata (0.4) Source: Wikidata Q19837
Ancient history
was born 71 years ago (5.1) Source: Wikidata Q19837
Born in Asia
wasn't born in Asia (0.0) Source: Wikidata Q19837
Long life
lived to 56 (3.2) Source: Wikidata Q19837
Most looked-up
their Wikipedia article was read 4.54 million times in 2025 (10.0) Source: Wikimedia pageviews, 2025
Decorated
received 7 awards and honors (3.5) Source: Wikidata Q19837
Born in the Americas
was born in the Americas (10.0) Source: Wikidata Q19837
Franz Schubert
Songwriter of some 600 lieder
Photo: Wilhelm August Rieder, Public domain
On this board Franz Schubert scored best in Namesake (8.3): Franz Schubert has 165 things named after them on Wikidata. Born in Asia was their weakest fit (0.0): Franz Schubert wasn't born in Asia. The best board puts them there too.
Known worldwide
Wikipedia has an article on them in 173 languages (6.9) Source: Wikidata Q7312
Namesake
has 165 things named after them on Wikidata (8.3) Source: Wikidata Q7312
Ancient history
was born 229 years ago (6.8) Source: Wikidata Q7312
Born in Asia
wasn't born in Asia (0.0) Source: Wikidata Q7312
Long life
lived to 31 (0.0) Source: Wikidata Q7312
Most looked-up
their Wikipedia article was read 430,498 times in 2025 (1.1) Source: Wikimedia pageviews, 2025
Decorated
received 0 awards and honors (0.0) Source: Wikidata Q7312
Born in the Americas
wasn't born in the Americas (0.0) Source: Wikidata Q7312
Coco Chanel
Designer of the little black dress and No. 5
Photo: Los Angeles Times, CC BY 4.0
On this board Coco Chanel scored best in Long life (9.4): Coco Chanel lived to 87. Born in Asia was their weakest fit (0.0): Coco Chanel wasn't born in Asia. The best board puts them there too.
Known worldwide
Wikipedia has an article on them in 123 languages (4.9) Source: Wikidata Q45661
Namesake
has 2 things named after them on Wikidata (0.1) Source: Wikidata Q45661
Ancient history
was born 143 years ago (6.2) Source: Wikidata Q45661
Born in Asia
wasn't born in Asia (0.0) Source: Wikidata Q45661
Long life
lived to 87 (9.4) Source: Wikidata Q45661
Most looked-up
their Wikipedia article was read 1.1 million times in 2025 (2.7) Source: Wikimedia pageviews, 2025
Decorated
received 1 awards and honors (0.5) Source: Wikidata Q45661
Born in the Americas
wasn't born in the Americas (0.0) Source: Wikidata Q45661
Archimedes
Shouted "Eureka!" in the bath
Photo: Domenico Fetti, Public domain
On this board Archimedes scored best in Ancient history (10.0): Archimedes was born 2,313 years ago. Born in Asia was their weakest fit (0.0): Archimedes wasn't born in Asia. The best board puts them there too.
Known worldwide
Wikipedia has an article on them in 246 languages (9.8) Source: Wikidata Q8739
Namesake
has 39 things named after them on Wikidata (2.0) Source: Wikidata Q8739
Ancient history
was born 2,313 years ago (10.0) Source: Wikidata Q8739
Born in Asia
wasn't born in Asia (0.0) Source: Wikidata Q8739
Long life
lived to 75 (7.0) Source: Wikidata Q8739
Most looked-up
their Wikipedia article was read 835,076 times in 2025 (2.1) Source: Wikimedia pageviews, 2025
Decorated
received 0 awards and honors (0.0) Source: Wikidata Q8739
Born in the Americas
wasn't born in the Americas (0.0) Source: Wikidata Q8739
Akbar
Mughal emperor famed for tolerance
Photo: 1605 artist, Public domain
On this board Akbar scored best in Born in Asia (10.0): Akbar was born in Asia. Decorated was their weakest fit (0.0): Akbar received 0 awards and honors. The best board puts them there too.
Known worldwide
Wikipedia has an article on them in 168 languages (6.7) Source: Wikidata Q8597
Namesake
has 3 things named after them on Wikidata (0.2) Source: Wikidata Q8597
Ancient history
was born 484 years ago (7.9) Source: Wikidata Q8597
Born in Asia
was born in Asia (10.0) Source: Wikidata Q8597
Long life
lived to 62 (4.4) Source: Wikidata Q8597
Most looked-up
their Wikipedia article was read 1.4 million times in 2025 (3.5) Source: Wikimedia pageviews, 2025
Decorated
received 0 awards and honors (0.0) Source: Wikidata Q8597
Born in the Americas
wasn't born in the Americas (0.0) Source: Wikidata Q8597
Aretha Franklin
The Queen of Soul, who sang Respect
Photo: Atlantic Records (Life time: Published before 1978 without a copyright notice), Public domain
Aretha Franklin received 24 awards and honors, so their best fit on this board was Decorated, worth 10.0. Their weakest was Born in Asia, worth 0.0, since Aretha Franklin wasn't born in Asia. That is where the best board puts them as well.
Known worldwide
Wikipedia has an article on them in 116 languages (4.6) Source: Wikidata Q125121
Namesake
has 8 things named after them on Wikidata (0.4) Source: Wikidata Q125121
Ancient history
was born 84 years ago (5.4) Source: Wikidata Q125121
Born in Asia
wasn't born in Asia (0.0) Source: Wikidata Q125121
Long life
lived to 76 (7.2) Source: Wikidata Q125121
Most looked-up
their Wikipedia article was read 1.96 million times in 2025 (4.9) Source: Wikimedia pageviews, 2025
Decorated
received 24 awards and honors (10.0) Source: Wikidata Q125121
Born in the Americas
was born in the Americas (10.0) Source: Wikidata Q125121
Charles Darwin
Explained evolution by natural selection
Photo: Herbert Rose Barraud, Public domain
On this board Charles Darwin scored best in Known worldwide (10.0): Wikipedia has an article on them in 279 languages. Born in Asia was their weakest fit (0.0): Charles Darwin wasn't born in Asia. The best board puts them there too.
Known worldwide
Wikipedia has an article on them in 279 languages (10.0) Source: Wikidata Q1035
Namesake
has 97 things named after them on Wikidata (4.9) Source: Wikidata Q1035
Ancient history
was born 217 years ago (6.8) Source: Wikidata Q1035
Born in Asia
wasn't born in Asia (0.0) Source: Wikidata Q1035
Long life
lived to 73 (6.6) Source: Wikidata Q1035
Most looked-up
their Wikipedia article was read 1.33 million times in 2025 (3.3) Source: Wikimedia pageviews, 2025
Decorated
received 13 awards and honors (6.5) Source: Wikidata Q1035
Born in the Americas
wasn't born in the Americas (0.0) Source: Wikidata Q1035
Amelia Earhart
Aviator who flew solo across the Atlantic
Photo: NBC Photo-NBC Radio, Public domain
Amelia Earhart was born in the Americas, so their best fit on this board was Born in the Americas, worth 10.0. Their weakest was Born in Asia, worth 0.0, since Amelia Earhart wasn't born in Asia. That is where the best board puts them as well.
Known worldwide
Wikipedia has an article on them in 126 languages (5.0) Source: Wikidata Q3355
Namesake
has 14 things named after them on Wikidata (0.7) Source: Wikidata Q3355
Ancient history
was born 129 years ago (6.0) Source: Wikidata Q3355
Born in Asia
wasn't born in Asia (0.0) Source: Wikidata Q3355
Long life
lived to 41 (0.2) Source: Wikidata Q3355
Most looked-up
their Wikipedia article was read 2.02 million times in 2025 (5.0) Source: Wikimedia pageviews, 2025
Decorated
received 9 awards and honors (4.5) Source: Wikidata Q3355
Born in the Americas
was born in the Americas (10.0) Source: Wikidata Q3355