Johann Adam Schall von Bell

Born in Cologne in 1591, Johann Adam Schall von Bell was a Jesuit father, astronomer and mathematician at the imperial court in Beijing. He reformed the Chinese calendar, became the first foreigner to head the Imperial Astronomical Bureau, and rose to the rank of mandarin under the first Qing emperor Shunzhi. His tombstone stands in Beijing's old Zhalan Jesuit cemetery beside that of Matteo Ricci.