Galileo Galilei lived from 1564 to 1642.

     Among his many inventions and discoveries are the microscope, thermoscope (thermometer), the study of motion, the water pump, and the telescope.  He called the telescope the Cannocchiali.

Galileo's Timeline

1609

April - rumors of an invention made by a Dutch spectacle maker.

May - Galileo finds out about this invention.

June - Galileo finishes making the first known working telescope.

Summer - First observations of the sky.

Autumn - Observing the Moon.

1610

January 6 - 15 - Discovers the satellites (moons) of Jupiter.

April - Publishes book.

1633

Threatened with torture by the catholic church, he had to deny that the planets were orbiting the Sun.  They forced him to be a prisoner in his home for 20+ years.  He died under house arrest.