John Knox was a Scottish religious reformer and political activist who founded the new Scottish protestant religion of Presbyterianism.

He was probably born in 1513 or 1514 in Giffordgate, about 15 miles from Edinburgh, Scotland. Nothing is known about his childhood, but his parents were remarkable. His father fought at the Battle of Flodden, and his mother was an educated woman. This was unusual in the 1500's.

Knox attended the University of Glasgow in 1552 and St. Andrew's University. Although he was Catholic, some think he first became familiar with Protestantism at the University of Glasgow. By 1540, he was a Catholic priest.

John Knox was a remarkable man. Although he is best known for founding the Presbyterian religion, all the things he did building up to this are remarkable. He became a friend of the Protestant George Wishart, who was banished from Scotland for his beliefs. He returned to...
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