Joseph Calasanz

Joseph Calasanz, , also known as Joseph Calasanctius and Iosephus a Matre Dei, was a Spanish Catholic priest, educator and the founder of the Pious Schools, which provided free education to poor boys. For this purpose he founded the religious order that ran them, commonly known as the Piarists. He was a close friend of the renowned astronomer Galileo Galilei. Joseph is honored as a saint by the Catholic Church, following his 1767 papal canonization.

11 September 1557

Born on the same birth day (11 September): André Caillé • Betsy Drake • Bola de Nieve • Carl Zeiss • Elvan Abeylegesse • Johann Gottlieb Heineccius • Johnny Neumann • Jonathan Adams (athlete) • Juan Cobián • Margaret Booth (judge) • Paul Heyman • Pavle, Serbian Patriarch • Renée Geyer • Rhema Obed • Scott Patterson • Tyler Hoechlin • Vivian Cheruiyot • Vjenceslav Novak • William Thomas Walsh

Born in the same month (September 1557): Jacques Mauduit • Sophie of Mecklenburg-Güstrow