Francesco Petrarca ( July 20 , 1304 â `` July 19 , 1374 ) , known in English as Petrarch , was an Italian scholar , poet , and one of the earliest Renaissance humanists . Francesco Petrarca ( July 20 , 1304 â `` July 19 , 1374 ) , known in English as Petrarch , was an Italian scholar , poet and one of the earliest Renaissance humanists .