Galileo Galilei Autobiography

Galileo Galilei Autobiography

Full Name: Mr. Galileo Galilei
Date of Birth: February 15, 1564
Place of Birth: Pisa, Italy
Died: January 8, 1642
Place of Death: Arcetri, Italy
Classification: Scientists & Thinkers


Although he was a Roman Catholic, Galileo Galilei was criticized more than once by the church for his astrological theories and his support of Copernicus. He was, at his time, not only one of the world’s foremost astrologers, but a philosopher, physicist, and mathematician as well.

Born in the Tuscany region of Italy, he was the son of a mathematician and a musician. After receiving an excellent education as a young boy, he attended the University of Pisa as an adult. But, because of financial burdens, he was forced to quit. When the faculty saw how brilliant he was, they decided to give him a position teaching mathematics. He then moved to the University of Padua and taught mechanics and astronomy. During his time there, he had two daughters and one son, even though he wasn’t married.

Within a few years, he decided to go to Rome where he could be with other major scientific thinkers of the day. When a priest accused him of heresy against the Catholic Church for his beliefs, Galileo published a controversial book called The Assayer. The Holy Office, however, had other plans for him and forced him into house arrest where he was not allowed to leave his villa unsupervised. With the publication of his newest book entitled Two New Sciences, he was watched even closer.