Galileo Galilei was born in Pisa, Italy on February 15, 1564. Out of seven children he was the oldest. His father was a musician and wool trader, who wanted his son to study medicine as there was more money in medicine. At age eleven, Galileo was sent off to study in a Jesuit monastery.
Galileo died on January 8th, 1642 after suffering with a fever and heart palpitations. He was 77 at the time he died. From 1634 he had been under house arrest at his house after being put on trial in Rome after his writings were seen to mock the Pope. He die condemned of heresy. His body was concealed and only placed in a fine tomb in the church in 1737 by the civil authorities against the wishes of many in the Church.