Famous Birthdays Dec 1 Nicolas-Claude Fabri de Peiresc, French astronomer (d. 1637) Dec 4 Samuel Argall, English adventurer and naval officer, born in East Sutton, Kent, England (d. 1626) Famous Deaths Dec 1 Edmund Campion, English jesuit, hanged at 42 Dec 1 Giovanni Morone, Italian theologian/diplomat/cardinal, dies at 71 1579 History by Year 1581