William Makepeace Thackeray · Karl Marx Were William Makepeace Thackeray and Karl Marx alive at the same time? Yes. William Makepeace Thackeray and Karl Marx were alive at the same time for 45 years, from 1818 to 1863. William Makepeace Thackeray was 6 when Karl Marx was born.Karl Marx was 45 when William Makepeace Thackeray died, aged 52. William Makepeace ThackerayBritish novelistBorn 18 July 1811 · died 24 December 1863, aged 52Karl MarxGerman-born philosopherBorn 5 May 1818 · died 14 March 1883, aged 64 NapoleonAbraham LincolnCharles DarwinWilliam Makepeace ThackerayKarl MarxLeo TolstoyMahatma GandhiVladimir LeninAlbert Einstein William Makepeace Thackeray and Karl Marx in bold, with some of their best-known contemporaries. Drag across to see the age each reached in any year. Faded ends mark uncertain dates.