John Knox

John Knox (c. 1514 – 1572) was a Scottish minister, theologian, and writer who was a leader of the Reformation and is considered the founder of the Presbyterian denomination in Scotland. Known for his fierce advocacy of the Protestant cause and his challenges to Roman Catholicism, Knox played a pivotal role in the development of Protestantism in Scotland. His confrontations with the Roman Catholic Church and his open criticism of certain monarchs, especially Mary, Queen of Scots, established him as a significant and often polarizing figure in Scottish history. Knox's theological works and sermons laid the foundation for the establishment of the Church of Scotland and significantly influenced Protestant thought not only in Scotland but throughout Europe.