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

Famous People Who Died in 1661

  • Jan 1 Pieter Claesz, Dutch still-life painter, dies at ~63
  • Jan 17 Andres Malong, Philippines rebel leader, executed
  • Jan 19 Thomas Venner, Fifth Monarchist (executed) (b. 1799)
  • Feb 2 Lucas Holstenius, German humanist (b. 1596)
  • Feb 5 Shunzhi Emperor of China (1644-1661) Third Qing Emperor, dies of smallpox at 22
  • Mar 1 Richard Zouch, English jurist, dies at 71
  • Mar 9 Jules Mazarin, Italian cardinal, diplomat and Chief Minister of France (1642-61), dies at 58
  • Mar 22 Hendrick Uylenburgh, Dutch art dealer who launched Rembrandt and others, buried at about 73
  • Mar 24 William Leddra becomes the last Quaker to be hanged in Boston, for the crime of returning from banishment
  • Apr 4 Alexander Leslie, 1st Earl of Leven, Scottish soldier (b. circa 1580)
  • Apr 6 John Webster, colonial Governor of Connecticut (Fundamental Orders of Connecticut), dies at about 71
  • Apr 7 William Brereton, 1st Baronet, English soldier and politician, dies at 56
  • May 27 Archibald Campbell, Scottish politician, beheaded at about 53
  • Jun 3 Gottfried Scheidt, German composer and organist, dies at 67
  • Jun 26 Lazaro Valvasensi, Italian organist and composer, dies at 76
  • Aug 2 Louis Couperin, French composer and organist, dies (b. 1626)
  • Aug 6 Jacqueline-Marie-Angélique Arnauld, French abbess (Port-Royal de Paris), dies at about 70
  • Aug 7 Jin Shengtan, Chinese editor, writer and critic (b. 1608)
  • Aug 16 Thomas Fuller, British scholar, preacher and historian (History of the Worthies of Britain), dies of typhus fever at 53
  • Sep 12 Jacobus de la Torra, RC apostole vicar of Holland, dies at about 53
  • Oct 4 Jacqueline Pascal, French child prodigy poet, and nun, dies on her 36th birthday
  • Oct 6 Guru Har Rai, seventh Sikh Guru
  • Oct 26 Johann Baltasar Schupp, German poet, historian and vicar, dies at 51
  • Oct 28 Agustín Moreto y Cavana, Spanish playwright (b. 1518)
  • Oct 30 Alexander Adriaenssen, Flemish painter known for his still lifes of fish and game pieces, dies at 74
  • Oct 31 Köprülü Mehmed Pasha, Albanian born Ottoman great vizier (established Köprülü dynasty of statesmen), dies at 85 or 86
  • Nov 29 Brian Walton, English Anglican priest, and scholar (Polyglot Bible), dies at about 60 or 61
  • Dec 7 Adriana Nooseman [van de Bergh], Dutch actress, 1st to perform professionally in the Netherlands ("Onvergelijkelijke Ariana" at Amsterdam Schouwburg), dies at about 35 [birthdate uncertain, c. 1626]
  • Dec 29 Antoine Gérard de Saint-Amant, French poet (b. 1594)