James Clerk Maxwell · Vladimir Lenin Were James Clerk Maxwell and Vladimir Lenin alive at the same time? Yes. James Clerk Maxwell and Vladimir Lenin were alive at the same time for 9 years, from 1870 to 1879. James Clerk Maxwell was 38 when Vladimir Lenin was born.Vladimir Lenin was 9 when James Clerk Maxwell died, aged 48. James Clerk MaxwellScottish physicistBorn 13 June 1831 · died 5 November 1879, aged 48Vladimir LeninFounding leader of the Soviet UnionBorn 22 April 1870 · died 21 January 1924, aged 53 Abraham LincolnKarl MarxJames Clerk MaxwellMahatma GandhiVladimir LeninAlbert EinsteinAdolf HitlerRonald ReaganNelson Mandela James Clerk Maxwell and Vladimir Lenin 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.