Famous People Who Died In 1612

Discover the most famous people died who died in the year 1612. This list includes people like Henry Frederick, Prince of Wales, Giovanni Gabrieli, Rudolf II, Holy Roman Emperor, Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury, Vasili IV of Russia and many more. This list of celebrities is loosely sorted by popularity. People featured on this list, include political leaders, noblemen, composers and playwrights who died in 1612. This list includes people from Italy, England and many more countries.
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 1 
Giovanni Gabrieli
(Italian Composer, Organist and One of the Most Influential Musicians of His Time)
Giovanni Gabrieli
3
Listed In: Musicians
Birthdate: 1557 AD
Birthplace: Venice, Italy
Died: 1612 AD

Giovanni Gabrieli was an Italian organist and composer. One of the most popular musicians of his generation, Gabrieli's works were popularized throughout Europe by his association with the prestigious Scuola Grande di San Rocco, where he was appointed as an organist.

 2 
Rudolf II, Holy Roman Emperor
(Politician)
Rudolf II, Holy Roman Emperor
6
Birthdate: July 18, 1552
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Vienna
Died: January 20

Rudolf II, Holy Roman Emperor reigned as the King of the Romans and as the King in Germany between 1576 and 1612. Best remembered as an intellectual aficionado of occult arts, Rudolf is often seen as the founding father of the Scientific Revolution. He devoted his time to astrology and alchemy in an attempt to find the Philosopher's Stone.

 3 
John Harington
(English author)
John Harington
2
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: August 4, 1561
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Kelston, United Kingdom
Died: November 20

Though a witty author, John Harington is better remembered as the inventor of the flush toilet. He was banished from the royal court for the cockiness of his language in his written works. He also earned a knighthood and later came to be known as Queen Elizabeth’s “saucy godson.”

 4 
Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury
(Former Secretary of State of England (1596 - 1612))
Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury
6
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: June 1, 1563
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Westminster, London, England
Died: May 24

Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury was a British statesman best remembered for his contribution during the Union of the Crowns. One of the main discoverers of the infamous Gunpowder Plot, Robert Cecil served as the Lord High Treasurer from 1608 to 1612. From 1596 to 1612, he served as the Secretary of State of England.

 5 
Christopher Clavius
(German Mathematician and Astronomer Who Was the Main Architect of the Modern 'Gregorian Calendar')
Christopher Clavius
1
Listed In: Scientists
Birthdate: March 25, 1538
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Bamberg, Germany
Died: February 6

Christopher Clavius was a Jesuit German astronomer and mathematician. Clavius was one of the members of the Vatican commission that gave a green signal to Aloysius Lilius' calendar which came to be known as the Gregorian calendar. He was one of Europe's most respected astronomers; his books were used for over 50 years for astronomical education in and around Europe.

 6 
Maria Nagaya
(Saint)
Maria Nagaya
0
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: February 8, 1553
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Russia
Died: August 20
 7 
Marina Gamba
(Writer)
Marina Gamba
0
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: 1570 AD
Birthplace: Venice, Italy
Died: August 21
 8 
John Gerard
(British Botanist)
John Gerard
0
Listed In: Scientists
Birthdate: 1545 AD
Birthplace: Nantwich, Cheshire, England
Died: 1612 AD

British herbalist John Gerard is best remembered for his iconic book The Herball, known as the first catalogue for plants. However, experts feel it was mostly plagiarized from a similar collection by Flemish botanist Rembert Dodoens. Apart from details about plants, he also included folklore in his works.

 9 
Charles, Count of Soissons
(Military commander)
Charles, Count of Soissons
0
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: November 3, 1566
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Nogent-le-Rotrou, France
Died: November 1
 10 
Hans Leo Hassler
(Composer)
Hans Leo Hassler
0
Listed In: Musicians
Birthdate: October 26, 1564
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Nürnberg, Germany
Died: June 8
 11 
Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah
(5th Sultan of the Qutb Shahi Sultanate of Golconda)
Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah
0
Birthdate: April 4, 1565
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Golkonda, Telangana, India
Died: January 11
 12 
Henry Frederick, Prince of Wales
5
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: February 19, 1594
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Stirling Castle, Stirling
Died: November 6

The eldest son of King James VI of England (and I of Scotland), Henry Frederick, Prince of Wales, often had arguments with his father regarding administrative issues. Known as an "obdurate Protestant," Henry was a handsome man and an art lover. Unfortunately, he died of typhoid before succeeding his father.

 13 
Piotr Skarga
(Polish Hagiographer and Writer)
Piotr Skarga
0
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: February 2, 1536
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Grojec, Poland
Died: September 27

Piotr Skarga was a Polish Jesuit, hagiographer, polemicist, and preacher. He played a major role in Poland's Counter-Reformation of Catholic Church in response to the spread of Protestantism in the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. Also a prolific writer, Piotr Skarga's work The Lives of the Saints was counted among the most popular Polish language books for several centuries.

 14 
Francis Stewart, 5th Earl of Bothwell
(Commendator)
Francis Stewart, 5th Earl of Bothwell
0
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: 1562
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: East Lothian Council, Scotland
Died: October 31
 15 
Federico Barocci
(Painter)
Federico Barocci
0
Birthdate: 1535 AD
Birthplace: Urbino, Italy
Died: September 30
 16 
Giovanni Battista Guarini
(Poet)
Giovanni Battista Guarini
0
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: December 10, 1538
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Ferrara, Italy
Died: October 7
 17 
Sasaki Kojirō
(Japanese Swordsman)
Sasaki Kojirō
10
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: 1575 AD
Birthplace: Fukui, Japan
Died: April 13

Sixteenth-century Japanese swordsman Sasaki Kojirō was known as the Demon of the Western Provinces because of his skill with the nodachi, a sword that demons used. Known for his signature move, Tsubame Gaeshi, he died fighting Miyamoto Musashi, his arch rival, at what is now known as Ganryu island.

 18 
Vasili IV of Russia
(Tsar of Russia)
Vasili IV of Russia
3
Birthdate: September 22, 1552
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Nizhny Novgorod, Russia
Died: September 12
 19 
Giovanni de' Bardi
(Literary Critic)
Giovanni de' Bardi
0
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: February 5, 1534
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Florence, Italy
Died: October 31
 20 
Jacques Bongars
(Scholar)
Jacques Bongars
0
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: 1554 AD
Birthplace: Orléans, France
Died: July 29
 21 
Roberto di Ridolfo
(Conspirator)
Roberto di Ridolfo
0
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: November 18, 1531
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Florence, Italy
Died: February 18
 22 
Erketu Qatun
(Ruler)
Erketu Qatun
1
Birthdate: 1551 AD
Birthplace: Mongolia
Died: June 24
 23 
John Smyth
(British Baptist Minister and Theologian)
John Smyth
1
Birthdate: 1554 AD
Birthplace: Nottinghamshire, England
Died: August 28

Also known as the "Se-baptist," or "self-baptizer," John Smyth is considered the pioneer of the Baptist faith in England. Initially a city preacher in Lincoln, he later joined a group of separatists who believed in believer’s baptism, as opposed to infant baptism, and thus formed the branch of Baptist Christianity.

 24 
Karin Mansdotter
(Queen)
Karin Mansdotter
1
Birthdate: November 6, 1550
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Stockholm, Uppland, Sweden
Died: September 13
 25 
Juan de la Cueva
(Dramatist)
Juan de la Cueva
0
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: October 23, 1543
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Sevilla, Spain
Died: September 30
 26 
Hendrik Laurenszoon Spiegel
(Writer)
Hendrik Laurenszoon Spiegel
0
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: March 11, 1549
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Amsterdam, Netherlands
Died: January 4
 27 
Johann von Wowern
(Philologist, Lawyer)
Johann von Wowern
0
Listed In: Scientists
Birthdate: March 10, 1574
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Germany
Died: March 30
 28 
Ralambo
(Monarch)
Ralambo
0
Birthdate: 1575 AD
Birthplace: Alasora
Died: 1612 AD
 29 
Alice Nutter
(Accused as a Pendle witch)
Alice Nutter
0
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: 1500 AD
Birthplace: Roughlee, England
Died: August 20
 30 
Godske Lindenov
(Commander on one of King Christian IV's expeditions to Greenland)
Godske Lindenov
0
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: 1612 AD
Birthplace: Copenhagen, Denmark
Died: 1612 AD