Karl Marx · John William Strutt Were Karl Marx and John William Strutt alive at the same time? Yes. Karl Marx and John William Strutt were alive at the same time for 40 years, from 1842 to 1883. Karl Marx was 24 when John William Strutt was born.John William Strutt was 40 when Karl Marx died, aged 64. Karl MarxGerman-born philosopherBorn 5 May 1818 · died 14 March 1883, aged 64John William StruttEnglish physicistBorn 12 November 1842 · died 30 June 1919, aged 76 NapoleonAbraham LincolnKarl MarxJohn William StruttMahatma GandhiVladimir LeninAlbert EinsteinAdolf HitlerRonald Reagan Karl Marx and John William Strutt 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.