On This Day

What Happened in December 1616

Famous Birthdays


Person of interestJohn Wallis

Dec 3 John Wallis, English mathematician and cryptographer who introduced ∞ as a symbol for infinity, born in Ashford, England (d. 1703)

Mathematician and Cryptographer John Wallis
Mathematician and Cryptographer
John Wallis
  • Dec 21 Pietro Andrea Ziani, Italian organist & composer, born in Venice, Italy (d. 1684)

Famous Deaths

  • Dec 10 Diogo do Couto, Portuguese historian/archivist of Goa, dies at 74
  • Dec 31 Jacques Le Maire, pirate/explorer (Lemaire Strait), dies at 31


What Happened in 1616