John Knox (c. 1514-1572) was born in Haddington, Scotland and educated at the University of Glasgow. He was originally a Roman Catholic priest. In 1543 he converted to Protestantism due, primarily, to the preaching of the reformer George Wishart. Although Wishart was eventually executed for heresy, Knox continued preaching until his capture by the French in 1547 when they attacked Saint Andrews. He was forced to labor in a French galley for almost two years until Edward VI, the king of England, secured his release. He moved to England and became the royal chaplain in 1551. When Catholic Queen Mary took the throne in 1553 he fled to Frankfurt and later to Geneva. Here he met Calvin and began studying his doctrines. He preached widely throughout Europe for a number of years until his return to Scotland in 1559. He denounced the Catholic Church and Scotland’s Catholic regent, Mary of Guise. He supported the Protestant revolt against the regency, a hopeless cause until England’s Elizabeth I, who had succeeded her half-sister Mary, agreed to support them. After the death of Mary of Guise, the Protestants took control of the Scottish government and Knox’s Confession of Faith was adopted by the Parliament. Control was lost briefly upon the return of yet another Catholic Mary, Mary Stuart, who reigned from 1560 to 1567. She had Knox arrested for treason, although he was later acquitted. He spent his remaining years after Mary’s death preaching and writing. He was the father of the Scottish Reformation and the architect of various branches of the Presbyterian and Reformed churches that exist today.
