Thread: What's the rule of law on using someone's name from the historical past?

I'd like to use a person's name, a well known historical figure, in product development. That person's name would be associated with our product, and they lived in the 1700's.

Am I right to presume that I can use the name and images of someone from that long ago as representations on our box for the product? Or, do I need to source the heirs of that person to get permission?

Bill