The 17th century was a politically chaotic period in almost all parts of the world. Several great military conflicts took place including the Thirty Years' War, the Great Turkish War, and the Dutch-Portuguese War which led to the emergence of military leaders like Gustav II Adolf and Axel Gustafsson Oxenstierna, and other important political personnel like John III Sobieski and Mehmed IV. European politics were majorly controlled by Louis XIV and the period marked in earnest the European colonization of the Americas. The 17th century was also an important one in the scientific field. It saw the birth of Blaise Pascal, the French mathematician, physicist, inventor, writer and Christian philosopher. Pierre de Fermat, Robert Hooke, Sir Isaac Newton, and Gottfried Wilhelm (von) Leibniz were also prominent scientists born in this era. The world of music and fine arts was enriched by the birth of the likes of Dieterich Buxtehude, Danish-German composer and Francesco Cavalli, Venetian opera composer. Artists like André Le Nôtre, Jan Steen, and Johannes Vermeer were also born in this era. Read on to learn more about the life and works of famous people of the 17th century.

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 1 

(English Playwright & Poet Who is Regarded as the Greatest Writer in the English Language)

Birthdate: April 26, 1564

Sun Sign: Taurus

Birthplace: Stratford-upon-Avon, England

Died: April 23, 1616

English playwright, poet, and actor William Shakespeare is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language. He is also often called England's national poet. Many of his works have been translated into other languages and his plays continue to be produced till day. Popular during his lifetime, he acquired an iconic status after his death.

 2 

(One of the Most Influential Scientists of All Time)

Birthdate: January 4, 1643

Sun Sign: Capricorn

Birthplace: Lincolnshire, England

Died: March 31, 1727

One of the most influential and popular scientists of all time, Sir Isaac Newton played a prominent role in our understanding of natural phenomena. He formulated the law of universal gravitation and laws of motion. He also developed the Newtonian telescope among other devices. Apart from science, Newton was also intrigued by religion, occult, and alchemy.

 3 

(Known as “Father” of Observational Astronomy who Invented the ‘Thermoscope’ and Various Military Compasses)

Birthdate: February 15, 1564

Sun Sign: Aquarius

Birthplace: Pisa, Italy

Died: January 8, 1642

An Italian astronomer, engineer, and physicist, Galileo Galilei is widely regarded as the father of observational astronomy, the father of the scientific method, the father of modern physics, and the father of modern science. He is credited with popularizing the telescope, which changed the course of history.

Birthdate: September 7, 1533

Sun Sign: Virgo

Birthplace: Palace of Placentia

Died: March 24, 1603

Elizabeth I, daughter of King Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn, ruled as the Queen of England and Ireland from 1558 to 1603. She had been declared illegitimate after her mother’s execution. Nicknamed The Virgin Queen for her unmarried status, she established an English Protestant church and served as its governor.

Birthdate: March 31, 1685

Sun Sign: Aries

Birthplace: Eisenach, Germany

Died: July 28, 1750

Johann Sebastian Bach was an 18-th century German composer of the Baroque period. He redefined both church and secular music. He served as the court musician of Duke Johann Ernst and King Augustus III. He created more than 300 cantatas and vocal music such as Mass in B minor.

 6 

(English Philosopher and Physician, Popularly Known as the ‘Father of Liberalism’)

Birthdate: August 29, 1632

Sun Sign: Virgo

Birthplace: Wrington, Somerset, England

Died: October 28, 1704

John Locke, also known as The Father of Liberalism, was a prominent Enlightenment Age philosopher. A qualified physician, Locke postulated the theory of mind, empiricism, and the idea of tabula rasa. His ideas influenced the social contract theory, the works of Kant and Rousseau, and the U.S. Declaration of Independence.

Birthdate: August 7, 1560

Sun Sign: Leo

Birthplace: Nyírbátor, Hungary

Died: August 21, 1614

Known as The Blood Countess and Countess Dracula, Elizabeth Báthory was a Hungarian noblewoman who was accused of killing at least 650 young women from 1590 to 1610. She was also accused of cannibalism and bathing in the blood of her victims. She evaded punishment and died in house arrest.

 8 

(French Philosopher, Mathematician and Inventor of ‘Analytic Geometry’)

Birthdate: March 31, 1596

Sun Sign: Aries

Birthplace: Descartes, France

Died: February 11, 1650

René Descartes, the father of modern philosophy, laid down the idea of rationalism, later followed by Spinoza and Leibniz. Descartes also contributed to the field of analytical geometry and led to the Cartesian coordinate system being named after him. His Meditations on First Philosophy is still taught at many universities.

Birthdate: June 9, 1672

Sun Sign: Gemini

Birthplace: Moscow

Died: February 8, 1725

Peter the Great ruled the Tsardom of Russia, and then the Russian Empire, from 1682 to 1725. He ushered in the Enlightenment and cultural revolution in Russia. He also strengthened the Russian navy and launched the Russo-Persian War. Saint Petersburg, the capital of Russia till 1917, was established by him.

 10 

(Philosopher, Statesman and Lord High Chancellor of England)

Birthdate: January 22, 1561

Sun Sign: Aquarius

Birthplace: The Strand, London, England

Died: April 9, 1626

Francis Bacon was a Renaissance philosopher and author who was known as the Father of Empiricism, because of his belief in the scientific method and theory that scientific knowledge can only be created through inductive reasoning and experience. He was later knighted and served as the first Queen's counsel.

 11 

(One of the Greatest Visual Artists in the History of Art)

Birthdate: July 15, 1606

Sun Sign: Cancer

Birthplace: Leiden, Netherlands

Died: October 4, 1669

Rembrandt was a Dutch printmaker, painter, and draughtsman. A master in three major art media, Rembrandt is widely considered the most important visual artist in Dutch art history and one of the greatest of all time. He is also considered thegreatest etcher in the history of printmaking. His life and work inspired several films, including the 1936 movie Rembrandt.

 12 

(Baroque Composer & Virtuoso Violinist Known for His Violin Concertos 'The Four Seasons')

Birthdate: March 4, 1678

Sun Sign: Pisces

Birthplace: Venice, Italy

Died: July 28, 1741

Italian Baroque composer, virtuoso violinist, and teacher, Antonio Lucio Vivaldi, is regarded as one of the greatest Baroque composers. He was extremely popular during his lifetime and composed many instrumental concertos and operas. He was also a Roman Catholic priest and worked at a home for abandoned children. Even though he died in 1741, his music continues to be popular.

 13 

(King of England, Scotland and Ireland from 1660 to 1685)

Birthdate: May 29, 1630

Sun Sign: Gemini

Birthplace: St James's Palace, London, England

Died: February 6, 1685

Charles II, son of King Charles I of England, ruled England, Scotland, and Ireland from 1660 to 1685. He was initially defeated by Oliver Cromwell and forced to go into exile, but returned to England after Cromwell’s death. He introduced the Clarendon Code and later sided with the Tories.

 14 

(One of the Greatest Mathematicians of All Time Who Invented the Mechanical Calculator)

Birthdate: June 19, 1623

Sun Sign: Gemini

Birthplace: Clermont-Ferrand, France

Died: August 19, 1662

Blaise Pascal was a French physicist, mathematician, philosopher, and inventor. A child prodigy, Pascal's work on projective geometry, at the age of 16 is commendable. He is one of the earliest inventors of the mechanical calculator, which he did when he was still a teenager. His work on probability theory influenced the development of social science and modern economics.

Birthdate: November 10, 1683

Sun Sign: Scorpio

Birthplace: Hanover, Germany

Died: October 25, 1760

George II was the king of Great Britain from 1727 to 1760. He had negligible control over his country’s policies, as the Parliament took most of the significant decisions back then. His participation in the 1743 Battle of Dettingen made him the last British monarch to fight in a battle.

Birthdate: December 27, 1571

Sun Sign: Capricorn

Birthplace: Weil der Stadt, Germany

Died: November 15, 1630

This 17th-century German mathematician, astronomer, and astrologer is remembered for his pathbreaking work on optics. He invented a developed version of the refracting telescope. He also laid down Kepler's laws of planetary motion and wrote Astronomia Nova, Harmonices Mundi, and Epitome Astronomiae Copernicanae.

 17 

(One of the Most Prominent Italian Painters of His Generation)

Birthdate: September 29, 1571

Sun Sign: Libra

Birthplace: Milan, Italy

Died: July 18, 1610

Italian painter Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio is best remembered for his influence on the Baroque style of painting. He pioneered a tactic known as tenebrism, and combined light and darkness to create his masterpieces. He was known for his erratic and aggressive nature and died under mysterious circumstances.

Birthdate: September 5, 1638

Sun Sign: Virgo

Birthplace: Saint-Germain-en-Laye, France

Died: September 1, 1715

Louis XIV of France reigned as the King of France from 1643 to 1715. Louis XIV is the longest-reigning monarch of a sovereign country in the history of Europe. Under his rule, France often asserted its military prowess and emerged as the most dominant European monarchy. His life inspired several films, such as The Taking of Power by Louis XIV.

Birthdate: December 13, 1553

Sun Sign: Sagittarius

Birthplace: Pau, France

Died: May 14, 1610

Henry IV of France reigned as the King of France from 2 August 1589 until his death on 14 May 1610. Remembered for his concern about the welfare of the people of France, Henry worked to eliminate corruption, promote agriculture, encourage education, and regularize state finance. The character of Ferdinand in Shakespeare's Love's Labour's Lost was loosely based on Henry.

Birthdate: October 31, 1632

Sun Sign: Scorpio

Birthplace: Delft, Netherlands

Died: December 15, 1675

Johannes Vermeer was a Dutch painter renowned for his use of light in paintings. Although he did not achieve fame during his lifetime, Vermeer's works gained popularity in the 19th century. Today, Vermeer is often counted among the greatest painters of the Dutch Golden Age. Over the years, Vermeer's work has inspired artists like Wilhelm Hammershoi and Thomas Wilmer Dewing.

 21 

(Japanese Swordsman and Philosopher Who Became Popular Through His Unique Double-Bladed Swordsmanship)

Birthdate: 1584 AD

Birthplace: Harima Province, Japan

Died: June 13, 1645

Miyamoto Musashi was a Japanese swordsman, writer, strategist, and philosopher. Widely regarded as a Kensei, Musashi became famous through his stories of bravery, which involves his undefeated streak of 61 duels. He is also credited with founding the Niten Ichi-ryū school of swordsmanship. His life has inspired several films, TV series, stage plays, and video games.

Birthdate: October 24, 1632

Sun Sign: Scorpio

Birthplace: Delft, Netherlands

Died: August 26, 1723

Seventeenth-century Dutch scientist Antonie van Leeuwenhoek, also known as the Father of Microbiology, is remembered as a pioneer of microscopy. His contribution to microbiology included the discovery of spermatozoa, bacteria, and muscle fibers. Though he had not authored any book, his letters to the Royal Society were later published.

 23 

(English Philosopher and One of the Founders of Modern Political Philosophy)

Birthdate: April 5, 1588

Sun Sign: Aries

Birthplace: Westport, Wiltshire, England

Died: December 4, 1679

Thomas Hobbes was an English philosopher. Widely regarded as the co-founder of modern political philosophy, Hobbes is best known for his influential book Leviathan. Apart from political philosophy, Thomas Hobbes also contributed immensely to various other fields, such as ethics, theology, geometry, history, and jurisprudence.

 24 

(Satirist & Author of 'Gulliver's Travels',' A Tale of a Tub' and 'A Modest Proposal')

Birthdate: November 30, 1667

Sun Sign: Sagittarius

Birthplace: Dublin, Ireland

Died: October 19, 1745

Eighteenth-century essayist, poet, and pamphleteer Jonathan Swift is remembered for his iconic works such as A Tale of a Tub, A Modest Proposal, and Gulliver's Travels. One of the world’s greatest satirists, he gave rise to the deadpan Swiftian style. He had also been the Dean of St. Patrick's Cathedral.

Birthdate: January 6, 1580

Sun Sign: Capricorn

Birthplace: Lincolnshire, England

Died: June 21, 1631

John Smith was an English explorer, soldier, colonial governor, author, and Admiral of New England. In the early-17th century, Smith played a major role in the establishment of the first indissoluble English settlement in America, which came to be known as the English colony at Jamestown. Apart from helping Jamestown survive various challenges, Smith's leadership also helped the colony flourish.

Birthdate: 1565 AD

Birthplace: England, United Kingdom

Died: 1611 AD

Henry Hudson was an English navigator and sea explorer best remembered for his explorations of modern-day Canada and the northeastern United States. He is credited with laying the foundation for the Dutch colonization near the Hudson River, which is named in his honor. During his final expedition, he became the first European to witness the Hudson Bay and Hudson Strait.

Birthdate: February 19, 1630

Sun Sign: Pisces

Birthplace: Maharashtra, India

Died: April 3, 1680

Shivaji was an Indian warrior-king. He is credited with founding the Maratha Empire, which became a force to reckon with during the 18th century. He is also credited with creating his own navy. Considered one of the most important Indian kings and a hero of the Hindus, Shivaji's life and work have inspired several works of art, including films.

Birthdate: July 28, 1635

Sun Sign: Leo

Birthplace: Freshwater, Isle of Wight

Died: March 3, 1703

Scientist Robert Hooke, also called England's Leonardo, initially gained recognition as an architect, conducting surveys following the Great Fire of London. He also taught geometry and was part of the Royal Society. He assisted Robert Boyle and eventually developed his own microscope, thus becoming the first to visualize micro-organisms.

 29 

(English Statesman, Soldier, Writer, Explorer and One of the Most Notable Figures of the Elizabethan Era)

Birthdate: 1552 AD

Birthplace: Hayes Barton,United Kingdom, United Kingdom

Died: October 29, 1618

English explorer Walter Raleigh is best remembered for his involvement in the Siege of Smerwick and for colonizing North America. He made smoking tobacco popular in England. His accounts of his first voyage to South America led to the legend of El Dorado. He was executed to please the Spanish.

Birthdate: November 19, 1600

Sun Sign: Scorpio

Birthplace: Dunfermline Palace, Dunfermline, Scotland

Died: January 30, 1649

Charles I, the King of England, Scotland and Ireland from 1625 to 1649, was said to be authoritarian and was in constant battle with the Parliament over the issue of royal prerogative. The friction led to a civil war from 1642 to 1645 between him and the English and Scottish Parliaments. He was defeated and executed in 1649 for treason.

 31 

(English Poet and Intellectual Known for His Epic Poem ‘Paradise Lost’)

Birthdate: December 9, 1608

Sun Sign: Sagittarius

Birthplace: Cheapside, London, England

Died: November 8, 1674

John Milton was an English poet whose epic poem Paradise Lost is widely regarded as one of the greatest works of literature. Milton's other celebrated work Areopagitica is counted among history's most impassioned and influential defenses of freedom of the press and freedom of speech. John Milton’s works have influenced other prominent writers, such as Thomas Hardy and George Eliot.

 32 

(3rd Emperor of the Mughal Empire (1556 - 1605))

Birthdate: October 25, 1542

Sun Sign: Scorpio

Birthplace: Umarkot, Pakistan

Died: October 27, 1605

Akbar, the third Mughal emperor, played an important role in inculcating Persian culture into the Indian subcontinent. Akbar is considered one of the most important rulers of the Mughal Empire, an empire that seeped foreign ideas and culture into medieval India, the effects of which are still visible in modern-day India, especially in the northern parts of the country.

Birthdate: November 6, 1661

Sun Sign: Scorpio

Birthplace: Madrid, Spain

Died: November 1, 1700

Charles II of Spain reigned as the king of Spain from 1665 to 1700. He was the last king from theHouse of Habsburg to rule the Spanish Empire. Despite suffering from many illnesses throughout his life, Charles proved to be a reasonably influential king. The town of Charleroi and the Caroline Islands in modern Belgium were named after Charles.

Birthdate: September 27, 1601

Sun Sign: Libra

Birthplace: Château de Fontainebleau, Fontainebleau, France

Died: May 14, 1643

Louis XIII of France reigned as the King of France between 1610 and 1643. He is best remembered for saving the kingdom from the mismanagement of his mother Marie de' Medici, who was exiled by a 16-year-old Louis XIII. He is also credited with popularizing wigs among men, which had not been fashionable since antiquity.

Birthdate: October 14, 1633

Sun Sign: Libra

Birthplace: London, England

Died: September 16, 1701

James II of England reigned as the king of Ireland, Scotland, and England from 1685 to 1688. His deposition as king, caused by the Glorious Revolution of 1688, ended a century of civil and political strife by establishing the principle that Parliament would be preferred over the Crown as opposed to the principles of divine right of kings and absolutism.

Birthdate: February 6, 1665

Sun Sign: Aquarius

Birthplace: St James's Palace, Westminster, England

Died: August 1, 1714

Many biographers consider Anne, the Queen of Great Britain, a weak and irresolute woman. It is said that she lacked political astuteness and was easily influenced by others. Though she was troubled by poor health throughout her life, she became increasingly obese and ill during her 30s and eventually died at the age of 49.

 37 

(One of the Most Important Philosophers of the Early Modern Period)

Birthdate: November 24, 1632

Sun Sign: Sagittarius

Birthplace: Amsterdam, Netherlands

Died: February 21, 1677

Dutch philosopher Baruch Spinoza is best remembered for his rationalist ideas and his posthumously released book Ethics. He opposed Rene Descartes’s ideas and believed that God was an abstract entity. He was later expelled from the Jewish society, while his books were banned by the Catholic Church.

Birthdate: August 13, 1574

Sun Sign: Leo

Birthplace: Hiers-Brouage, Marennes-Hiers-Brouage, France

Died: December 25, 1635

Samuel de Champlain was a French colonist, navigator, draftsman, soldier, and explorer who made between 21 and 29 trips across the Atlantic Ocean. He founded Quebec and New France and is considered an important figure in Canadian history. He is also referred to as the "Father of New France." As a businessman, he founded many trading companies.

 39 

(German Mathematician Who Developed the Present Day Notation for the Differential and Integral Calculus)

Birthdate: July 1, 1646

Sun Sign: Cancer

Birthplace: Leipzig, Germany

Died: November 14, 1716

Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz was a significant logician, mathematician, and philosopher of the Enlightenment era. He laid down his own concepts of differential and integral calculus. He was behind the invention of the mass-produced mechanical calculator and modified the binary number system. He also laid down a separate library cataloging system.

Birthdate: October 14, 1644

Sun Sign: Libra

Birthplace: London, England

Died: July 30, 1718

William Penn was a writer and one of the earliest members of the Quakers. He is credited with founding the Province of Pennsylvania. He also oversaw the planning and development of the city of Philadelphia. Penn has several universities and schools named in his honor, including the William Penn University in Iowa. 

Birthdate: October 22, 1688

Sun Sign: Libra

Birthplace: Dargaz, Iran

Died: June 19, 1747

Nader Shah reigned over Iran as the Shah of Iran from 1736 until his death in 1747. He is widely regarded as one of the most powerful rulers in the history of Iran. He has also been described as theNapoleon of Persia, thanks to his military genius, which was evident in his several campaigns.

 42 

(Greek Painter, Sculptor and Architect of the Spanish Renaissance)

Birthdate: October 1, 1541

Sun Sign: Libra

Birthplace: Heraklion, Greece

Died: April 7, 1614

Artist Doménikos Theotokópoulos never let anyone forget his Greek heritage and almost always signed his art in Greek letters. Popularly known as El Greco, he was a significant figure of the Spanish Renaissance. His best-known works remain The Burial of the Count of Orgaz and The Assumption of the Virgin.

Birthdate: April 30, 1662

Sun Sign: Taurus

Birthplace: London, England

Died: December 28, 1694

Mary II of England was Queen of England, Ireland, and Scotland from 1689 to 1694. Although she co-reigned along with her husband William III of England, she also took major decisions by herself whenever William was abroad. Mary has been portrayed in films, such as Orlando and England, My England.

Birthdate: July 8, 1593

Sun Sign: Cancer

Birthplace: Rome, Italy

Died: 1652 AD

Italian Baroque painter Artemisia Gentileschi was a prominent artist of the 17th century. She was the first female member of the Accademia di Arte del Disegno and was known for her depiction of the female form. She was raped by painter Agostino Tassi and participated in a 7-month trial.

Birthdate: September 21, 1640

Sun Sign: Virgo

Birthplace: Saint-Germain-en-Laye, France

Died: June 9, 1701

Philippe I, Duke of Orléans received the dukedoms of Chartres and Valois in 1661 as the younger son of Louis XIII of France. Unlike most royal persons of his generation, Philippe was open about his homosexuality and did not think twice before acting effeminately in public. However, he fathered several children and earned the nickname the grandfather of Europe.

 46 

(French Playwright and One of the Greatest Writers of French Comedy)

Birthdate: January 15, 1622

Sun Sign: Capricorn

Birthplace: Rue Saint Honoré, Paris, France

Died: February 17, 1673

Moliere was a French poet, playwright, and actor. Considered one of the greatest French-language writers of all time, Moliere's plays are often performed at the Comédie-Française and have been translated into several languages. Moliere had a huge impact on the French language and is widely regarded as the creator of modern French comedy.

Birthdate: April 18, 1590

Sun Sign: Aries

Birthplace: Manisa, Turkey

Died: November 22, 1617

Ahmed I reigned as the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1603 till 1617. He ended the Ottoman tradition of royal fratricide upon taking over the throne. He constructed the iconic Blue Mosque of Turkey. He also patronized art, especially calligraphy, and wrote poems under the pseudonym Bahti.

Birthdate: January 25, 1627

Sun Sign: Aquarius

Birthplace: Ireland

Died: December 30, 1691

Robert Boyle was an Anglo-Irish chemist, natural philosopher, inventor, and physicist. Regarded as the first modern chemist, Boyle is often counted among the founders of modern chemistry. One of the pioneers of the scientific method, Robert Boyle is also remembered for his books, including The Sceptical Chymist, which is viewed as a keystone book in chemistry.

 49 

(One of the Most Influential Artists of the Flemish Baroque Tradition)

Birthdate: June 28, 1577

Sun Sign: Cancer

Birthplace: Siegen, Germany

Died: May 30, 1640

Peter Paul Rubens is considered the most influential artist of the Flemish Baroque tradition. He lived during the Dutch Golden Age. His style of art emphasized movement, color, and sensuality. He painted altarpieces, portraits, landscapes, and history paintings and also drew cartoons for the Flemish tapestry workshops. He was a classically educated humanist scholar as well.

Birthdate: 1660 AD

Birthplace: London, England

Died: April 24, 1731

Daniel Defoe was an English trader, pamphleteer, and spy, who is best remembered for his 1719 novel Robinson Crusoe. He also helped in popularizing the novel format of writing in Britain. He was a forerunner of business journalism, too, and also traded in hosiery, woollen goods, and wine.