About Galileo Galilie

Born on 15th February 1564	Alma Mater – University of Pisa
Died on 8th January 1642	Field – Physics, Mathematics and Astronomy
Religion – Roman Catholic	Well known For – Kinematics, Telescopes and Solar System
Institution – University of Padua

Galileo was an Italian physicist, Philosopher, Astronomer and mathematician and was associated with scientific revolution.

He has made many achievements which include improvements to the telescope, support for Copernicanism, astronomical observations and systematic studies of uniformly accelerated motion. Galileo was the first of six children of Vincenzo Galilie who was a famous lutenist and a music theorist.

Galileo considered priesthood as a young man but was directed by his father to do a medical degree. He enrolled for this but never completed it, he then went on to do a mathematics degree. He was appointed to the chair of mathematics in 1589.

After his father dies he was left to look after his younger brother and moved to the University of Padua where he taught astronomy, mechanics and geometry. Galileo fathered 3 children out of wedlock with Marina Gamba, 2 girls and a boy Virginia in 1600 and Livia in 1601 and Vincenzio in 1606.

The two girls were sent to a convent and the boy was later married to Sestilia Bocchineri. He was arrested and threatened to be killed after he claimed the sun was the centre of the galaxy not the earth. After he changed his mind to avoid being killed the church decided he had to stay in his house form the rest of his life, just in case.

Science gradually proved his theory was correct so in 1633 he was condemned for biblical and scientific reasons.