Jan 26 Florent Chrestien, French writer (d. 1596) Mar 25 Francesco I de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany (d. 1587) Apr 8 Michele Mercati, Italian physician and gardener, born in Rome, Italy (d. 1593) Oct 31 Hendrik van Kinschot, Dutch lawyer Nov 9 Menso Alting, Dutch reformed vicar and theologist, born in Eelde, Netherlands (d. 1612) 1540 Birthdays in History by Year 1542