Hugo Grotius

Hugo Grotius, also known as Hugo de Groot or Huig de Groot, was a Dutch humanist, diplomat, lawyer, theologian, jurist, statesman, poet and playwright. A teenage prodigy, he was born in Delft and studied at Leiden University. He was imprisoned in Loevestein Castle for his involvement in the controversies over religious policy of the Dutch Republic, but escaped hidden in a chest of books that was transported to Gorinchem. Grotius wrote most of his major works in exile in France.

10 April 1583

Born on the same birth day (10 April): Bob Watson • Bunny Wailer • Chris Carrabba • Jack Badcock • Liz McClarnon • Maurice Schumann • Omar Sharif • Otto Steinböck • Paul Bearer • Spede Pasanen • Steve Anderson (hurdler) • Steve Glasson • Thanasi Kokkinakis