Martin Luther · Francis Drake Were Martin Luther and Francis Drake alive at the same time? Yes. Martin Luther and Francis Drake were alive at the same time, from c. 1540 to 1546. Martin LutherGerman priest and theologianBorn 10 November 1483 · died 18 February 1546, aged 62Francis DrakeEnglish sailor and privateerBorn c. 1540 · died 28 January 1596 Christopher ColumbusLeonardo da VinciNiccolò MachiavelliNicolaus CopernicusMichelangeloMartin LutherFrancis DrakeMiguel de CervantesGalileo GalileiWilliam Shakespeare Martin Luther and Francis Drake in bold, with some of their best-known contemporaries. Drag across to see the age each reached in any year. Faded ends mark uncertain dates.