Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift.

Famous People Who Died in 1543

Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo (1499-1543)

Jan 3 Portuguese-Spanish conquistador who conquered Central America and later discovered California, dies of gangrene at around 43

  • Jan 9 Guillaume du Bellay, French diplomat and general, dies at about 52 (b. 1491, exact sate uncertain)
  • Feb 10 Johann Eck, German Scholastic theologian and early counter-reformer against Lutheran challenges, dies a 56
  • Feb 11 Ahmed Gran, sultan of Adal, dies in battle at Wayna Daga

Nicolaus Copernicus (1473-1543)

May 24 Polish mathematician and astronomer who theorized that planets revolve around the sun (Heliocentric theory), dies at 70

  • Jun 27 Agnolo Firenzuola, Italian poet and litterateur, dies at 49
  • Jul 19 Lady Mary Boleyn, mistress of King Henry VIII of England