Famous People Who Died In 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.

Willebrord Snell was a Dutch mathematician and astronomer. He is credited with rediscovering the law of refraction, which is named Snell's law in his honor. A much-revered mathematician in the Netherlands, Willebrord Snell was honored by the Royal Netherlands Navy by naming three of its survey ships after him. Snellius, a lunar crater, is also named in his honor.

Malik Ambar was a Siddi military leader who served as the prime minister of the Ahmadnagar Sultanate, later serving as its de facto ruler. Brought into India as a slave, Ambar created a mercenary force and pioneered guerrilla warfare. He then went on to found the city of Khirki, which was later renamed as Aurangabad. 

Salomon de Brosse was a French architect who worked during the early 17th-century. An influential personality, De Brosse's works had a major influence on the works of another important architect, François Mansart. Counted among the most important architects of his generation, Salomon De Brosse was commissioned to design ambitious projects, such as the Luxembourg Palace in Paris.

Nurhaci was a Jurchen chieftain who reigned as the Khan of Later Jin for 10 years. He is credited with uniting and reorganizing several Jurchen tribes. His attack and conquest of Ming dynasty laid the foundation for the formation of the Qing dynasty, which was founded by his descendants in 1636. His life inspired the 2005 TV series, Taizu Mishi.

Best known for his satiric and anti-papal poem A picktooth for the Pope, or the packman’s paternoster, Scottish poet Sir James Sempill had also served as Scotland’s ambassador to England and France. The son of noblewoman Mary Livingston, he also earned a knighthood for his achievements.

Lancelot Andrewes was a scholar and bishop who played an important role during the reigns of James I and Elizabeth I, serving prominent positions in the Church of England. During James I's reign, he not only served as the Bishop of Chichester, Ely, and Winchester but also supervised the translation of the Authorized Version, the English translation of the Bible.