Famous People Who Died In 1661

Pieter Claesz was a Dutch painter of still lifes who flourished during the Dutch Golden Age. He is best remembered for his work alongside other important Dutch Golden Age artist Willem Claesz Heda. Pieter Claesz and Heda worked in Haarlem and are credited with founding a well-known tradition of still life painting in the city. 

Chinese pirate and Ming dynasty leader Zheng Zhilong was baptized by the Europeans who had employed him as a boy. He was assigned the duty of safeguarding the borders from the Dutch, and later joined the Qing dynasty. He was assassinated for his son’s refusal to submit to the Qings.

One of the founders of projective geometry, French mathematician Girard Desargues began his career as an architect and an engineer, designing several private and public buildings in Paris and Lyon and also a project for lifting water. Eventually he became associated with a group of Parisian mathematicians and undertook researches on perspective and geometrical projections, publishing several papers on it.

María de Zayas was a Spanish author who was active during Spain's Golden Age of literature. Many modern critics consider her one of the pioneers of modern literary feminism. She highlighted the multiple issues faced by women through the female characters in her stories. She was a much-respected writer. Not much is known about her personal life. 

Shunzhi Emperor of the Qing Dynasty was the first Qing ruler of China proper. Shunzhi relied on Buddhist priests and eunuch officials. While some believe he had died of smallpox, others state he had retired to a monastery to cope with the death of his favorite consort.

Luis Méndez de Haro began his political career under the guidance of his uncle, Gaspar de Guzmán, who was the chief minister of King Philip IV and whom he succeeded. He also struck a peace deal, putting an end to a long war with France, with the Peace of the Pyrenees.

Jan Fyt was a Flemish Baroque painter, etcher, and draughtsman. One of the 17th century's leading animaliers, Fyt is remembered for his lush hunting pieces and refined depictions of animals. A versatile still-life specialist, Jan Fyt was also an accomplished etcher; he produced a series of etchings portraying mainly animals and dogs.

German classical scholar Lucas Holstenius is best remembered for his Epistolae ad diversos, which offers a mirror of his era. His notes and annotations on various geographical works are also significant. He also headed the Vatican Library as its librarian and revised the Italian map at the Vatican gallery.

Samuel Twardowski, who mostly worked as an assistant or secretary to diplomats, is best remembered for his diary, The Important Mission of His Grace Duke Krzysztof Zbaraski, written in verse. Known as the Polish Virgil, he wrote many other historical treatises, apart from several pastoral romances.

Italian cardinal, diplomat, and politician Jules Mazarin served as a papal diplomat for Pope Urban VIII. He later became Chief Minister of France and served under Monarchs Louis XIII and Louis XIV until his death. While serving the position for almost two decades, Mazarin emerged as the de facto ruler of France and remained instrumental in establishing the Westphalian principles.