Theodore Beza

Theodore Beza was born in Vezelay, France, on June 24, 1519. His father was the bailiff of the county. Theodore was adopted by his uncle after the death of his mother, was tutored by Melchior Wolmar and attended the University of Orleans, receiving the degree of licentiate of the law. After a serious illness, he realized he held to Protestant beliefs, and he remembered the teachings of Wolmer. Embracing the Protestant cause, he left France with his wife and left for Switzerland.

He associated with the Reformed church and became a lifelong friend of John Calvin. From 1549 to 1558 he was professor of Greek at Lausanne. In 1558 he became professor of Greek at Geneva and succeeded Calvin in the chair of theology at Geneva. He was considered the leader of the French Reformed and Huguenot adherents, he made many trips to France and attempted to reconcile the differences between the Catholic leadership and the Reformed congregations. He died on October 13, 1605.