Famous People Born In 1619

Prince Rupert of the Rhine was a German-English admiral, army officer, colonial governor, and scientist. Renowned for his energy and quick-thinking, Rupert made long-lasting and impressive contributions to the doctrine and development of the Royal Navy. He is also credited with shaping modern Canada's political geography. 

Jan van Riebeeck was a Dutch colonial administrator and navigator. He is credited with founding the Dutch Cape Colony and Cape Town. Jan van Riebeeck is of historical and cultural importance to South Africa as many South Africans consider him the founding father of their country. Several South African villages and towns have streets named after Van Riebeeck.

Born into a merchant family in France, Jean-Baptiste Colbert grew up to hold various administrative posts. Patronized by Cardinal Mazarin, he became affluent and later became one of the most efficient administrators during the regime of Louis XIV. He also established the French merchant navy.

Charles Le Brun was a French physiognomist, painter, and art theorist. He served as the director of many popular art schools of his time. He also served as the court painter to Louis the Great, who called him the greatest French artist. An influential artist of 17th-century France, Charles Le Brun's works are still preserved in the popular Louvre Museum. 

Apart from being the royal architect, Jean Marot had also designed private buildings such as Hôtel de Pussort and Hôtel de Monceau. He is, however, best known for his engravings Le Petit Marot and Le Grand Marot. He was the father of engraver and furniture designer Daniel Marot.

Francesco Morosini served as the Doge of Venice between 1688 and 1694, when the Great Turkish War was at its peak. He also played an important role in the Morean War, during which he captured the Morea, Lefkada, and Athens. Francesco Morosini was responsible for destroying the Parthenon and looting sculptures from Athens, including the Piraeus Lion. 

The first Japanese to follow Chinese philosopher Wang Yangming’s teachings, Kumazawa Banzan lived during the Edo period. Though a masterless samurai, he rose through the ranks to become Okayama’s chief minister. However, his progressive ideas were deemed suspicious and eventually led him to a life in custody.

Remembered for his 2-part The Book of the Three Birds, which later became a Welsh classic, author Morgan Llwyd was born into a gentry family. He had also been a chaplain in the New Model Army of Oliver Cromwell during the English Civil War. He is also known as Wrexham’s first Nonconformist minister.