Famous Deaths Feb 4 Louis Elsevier, Dutch publisher, dies at about 76 Feb 6 Prospero Alpini, Italian botanist and physician (De Plantis Aegypti liber) known for his study of date palms, dies at 63 Feb 8 Hans Christoph Heyden, German composer, organist and poet, dies at 44 Jan 1617 History by Year Mar 1617 Famous People by their Chinese Zodiac Animal Year of the Rabbit2023 Year of the Dragon2024 Year of the Snake2025 Year of the Horse2026 Year of the Goat/Sheep2027 Year of the Monkey2028