Major Events
- Apr 4 Francis Drake knighted by Queen Elizabeth I aboard his galleon "Golden Hind" at Deptford, England
- Oct 15 Commissioned by Catherine de' Medici, the 1st ballet "Ballet Comique de la Reine" is staged in Paris
- More 1581 Events
Born in 1581
- Jan 4 James Ussher, Irish Archbishop of Armagh (claimed world began Sunday 23 Oct 4004 BC), born in Dublin, Ireland (d. 1656)
- Feb 4 Daniel Selich, German court composer, born in Wittenberg, Electrorate of Saxony, Holy Roman Empire (d. 1626)
- Feb 17 Fausto Poli, Italian Catholic Cardinal. private secretary to Pope Urban, born in Usigni (d. 1653)
- Mar 16 Pieter Corneliszoon Hooft, Dutch historian and writer (d. 1647)
- Apr 24 Vincent de Paul, French Roman Catholic Saint, born in Pouy, Gascony, France (d. 1660)
More People Born in 1581
Who Died in 1581
- Jan 22 Joost de Damhoudere, Flemish lawyer (Praxis rerum criminalium), dies at 73
- Jan 22 Seerp Galama, Dutch nobleman, soldier and politician, dies at 52
- Apr 3 Huibert Duifhuis, Roman Catholic pastor (Rotterdam/Utrecht), dies
- Jun 2 James Douglas, 4th Earl of Morton, regent of Scotland
- Jul 11 Peder Skram, Danish senator and naval hero
More 1581 Deaths
Elizabeth I
Philip II of Spain