Karl Marx · William Ramsay Were Karl Marx and William Ramsay alive at the same time? Yes. Karl Marx and William Ramsay were alive at the same time for 30 years, from 1852 to 1883. Karl Marx was 34 when William Ramsay was born.William Ramsay was 30 when Karl Marx died, aged 64. Karl MarxGerman-born philosopherBorn 5 May 1818 · died 14 March 1883, aged 64William RamsayScottish chemistBorn 2 October 1852 · died 23 July 1916, aged 63 NapoleonAbraham LincolnKarl MarxWilliam RamsayMahatma GandhiVladimir LeninAlbert EinsteinAdolf HitlerRonald Reagan Karl Marx and William Ramsay 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.