Who Was Alive

Were René Descartes and John Milton alive at the same time?

Yes. René Descartes and John Milton were alive at the same time for 41 years, from 1608 to 1650.

René Descartes was 12 when John Milton was born.

John Milton was 41 when René Descartes died, aged 53.

René Descartes

French philosopher, mathematician, and scientist

Born 31 March 1596 · died 11 February 1650, aged 53

John Milton

English poet and civil servant

Born 9 December 1608 · died 8 November 1674, aged 65

  1. Miguel de Cervantes
  2. Galileo Galilei
  3. William Shakespeare
  4. René Descartes
  5. John Milton
  6. Molière
  7. Isaac Newton
René Descartes 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.