Galileo Galilei · John Milton Were Galileo Galilei and John Milton alive at the same time? Yes. Galileo Galilei and John Milton were alive at the same time for 33 years, from 1608 to 1642. Galileo Galilei was 44 when John Milton was born.John Milton was 33 when Galileo Galilei died, aged 77. Galileo GalileiItalian polymathBorn 15 February 1564 · died 8 January 1642, aged 77John MiltonEnglish poet and civil servantBorn 9 December 1608 · died 8 November 1674, aged 65 MichelangeloMiguel de CervantesGalileo GalileiWilliam ShakespeareRené DescartesJohn MiltonMolièreIsaac Newton Galileo Galilei and John Milton 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.