Galileo Galilei · Thomas Hobbes Were Galileo Galilei and Thomas Hobbes alive at the same time? Yes. Galileo Galilei and Thomas Hobbes were alive at the same time for 53 years, from 1588 to 1642. Galileo Galilei was 24 when Thomas Hobbes was born.Thomas Hobbes was 53 when Galileo Galilei died, aged 77. Galileo GalileiItalian polymathBorn 15 February 1564 · died 8 January 1642, aged 77Thomas HobbesEnglish philosopherBorn 5 April 1588 · died 4 December 1679, aged 91 MichelangeloMiguel de CervantesGalileo GalileiWilliam ShakespeareThomas HobbesRené DescartesMolièreIsaac Newton Galileo Galilei and Thomas Hobbes 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.