Galileo Galilei · John Donne Were Galileo Galilei and John Donne alive at the same time? Yes. Galileo Galilei and John Donne were alive at the same time for 58 or 59 years, from 1572 to 1631. Galileo Galilei was 7 or 8 when John Donne was born.Galileo Galilei was 67 when John Donne died, aged 58 or 59. Galileo GalileiItalian polymathBorn 15 February 1564 · died 8 January 1642, aged 77John DonneEnglish poet and clericBorn 1572 · died 31 March 1631, aged 58 or 59 MichelangeloMiguel de CervantesGalileo GalileiWilliam ShakespeareJohn DonneRené DescartesMolière Galileo Galilei and John Donne in bold, with some of their best-known contemporaries. Drag across to see the age each reached in any year. Faded ends mark uncertain dates.