John Knox

John Knox - Protestant Leader, Timeline and Family

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John Knox's Personal Details

John Knox was a pastor and reformer and the leader of the Reformation in Scotland

InformationDetail
Birthday1514
Died onNovember 24, 1572
NationalityScottish
FamousMiscellaneous, Pastors, Protestant Leader
SpousesMargaret, Marjorie Bowes
ChildrensEleazar, Nathaniel
Universities
  • University of St Andrews
  • University of Glasgow
Birth PlaceNear Haddington, East Lothian,, Kingdom of Scotland
GenderMale
FatherWilliam Knox
MotherSinclair
Born inNear Haddington, East Lothian,, Kingdom of Scotland
Famous asProtestant Leader
Died at Age58

John Knox's photo

Who is John Knox?

Scottish theologian and leader of the Reformation in Scotland, John Knox entered Catholic priesthood but became a Protestant under the influence of George Wishart, a Scottish Reformer. During the years of political and religious turmoil in Scotland, Knox was captured by French forces and held prisoner. From this experience, he emerged as the voice of the Scottish Reformation. After his release from prison, he worked with the Protestant regency ruling for Edward IV in England and helped shape The Book of Common Prayer. When the Catholic Mary Tudor came to the English throne, Knox left England and eventually moved to Geneva, where he met John Calvin. In Calvin's teachings, he found the ideals of the true Protestant church. He strove towards wiping out the vestiges of Catholicism in Scotland. To achieve this, he reasserted Calvin's conviction of the people's right to overthrow any ruler who curtailed their freedom of conscience. Back in Scotland, he led a group of Protestant nobles intent on overthrowing Catholic regent Mary Stuart. As the leader of the Reform movement and backed by the Scottish Parliament, he framed the Confession of Faith and summoned the first General Assembly of the Reformed Church. By the time of his death, Catholicism in Scotland had been vanquished.

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Childhood & Early Life

John Knox was born in 1514 in or near Haddington, the county town of East Lothian, to William Knox, a farmer and Sinclair. His mother died when he was a child.

It is believed that he got primary education at the grammar school in Haddington and proceeded to further studies either at the University of St Andrews or of Glasgow. He studied under John Major, a supreme scholar of the time.

Career

As a priest and a notary in 1540, Knox tutored two sons of Hugh Douglas of Longniddry and the son of John Cockburn of Ormiston who embraced the new religious ideas of the Reformation.

Knox became the bodyguard of George Wishart, a reformer who had returned to Scotland. In 1545, Wishart was arrested and taken to the Castle of St Andrews at the behest of Cardinal Beaton.

Knox and his pupils became fugitives, but came to the Castle of St Andrews, after the Cardinal’ murder. He considered the Bible as his sole authority and the Pope Antichrist

Knox's chaplaincy ended when the French besieged the castle and took him and others as galley slaves. In February 1549, after spending a total of 19 months in the galley-prison, Knox was released

He took refuge in England where The Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Cranmer, and the regent of King Edward VI, were Protestant-minded. From his pulpit in Berwick-upon-Tweed, he preached Protestant doctrines as his congregation grew.

Appointed preacher of St Nicholas' Church in Newcastle, in1551, he was appointed as a royal chaplains serving the King. When John Dudley, 1st Duke of Northumberland, overthrew the regent, he condemned the coup d'état.

Knox was summoned to London to preach before the Court. There, he opposed idolatry and the practice of kneeling during communion. A compromise was reached with Black Rubric stating no adoration is intended while kneeling.

After Edward’s death in1554, he fled to Geneva and met French theologian John Calvin. He condemned Mary Tudor, Edward’ successor and accepted an invitation from a congregation of English exiles in Frankfurt.

Richard Cox, one of the authors of the Book of Common Prayer, brought Knox's pamphlet attacking the emperor to the attention of the Frankfurt authorities, who advised him to leave in 1555

He returned to Scotland in 1555 and preached for nine months the reformed doctrines. Welcomed by the nobility and regarded as a threat by the bishops, he was forced to return to Geneva.

He returned to Scotland in 1559, and within days of his arrival, he preached a violent sermon at Perth (Scotland) against Catholic "idolatry," causing a riot which he condemned

The Protestants in Perth rebelled against the regent, who advanced with her troops from Stirling. A parley with the Congregation resulted in a treaty and the Protestants were to be allowed complete freedom of worship.

He next moved to St. Andrews, Stirling, and finally marched to Edinburgh, while the regent retreated to Dunbar and in 1559 he was chosen minister of the Edinburgh Protestants.

The Protestants militarily occupied more cities and by the Treaty of Berwick (1560), the English now under Protestant Elizabeth I, and the French, agreed to leave Scotland assuring the future of Protestantism in Scotland

The Parliament ordered Knox and five colleagues to write a Confession of Faith, the First Book of Discipline, and The Book of Common Order—Protestant faith was cast in a distinctly Calvinist mode.

Major Works

In 1558, Knox published, First Blast of the Trumpet Against the Monstrous Regiment of Women, a polemical treatise against female sovereigns and their policies, but also against female rule over men generally.

The History of the Reformation in Scotland is a magnum opus written by Knox between 1559 and 1566. It has been used as an historical source since its full publication

Personal Life & Legacy

John Knox's first wife, Marjorie Bowes died early in his Edinburgh ministry and had two sons. In 1564, he married Margaret Stewart, who was seventeen and Knox three times as old and they had three daughters.

Trivia

A man standing before this 16th century Protestant leader’s open grave said, "Here lies a man who neither flattered nor feared any flesh."

His gravesite at the Church of St Giles has been (along with various other graves) covered over by a visitors’ car park. He is buried under car park number 66.

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John Knox biography timelines

  • // 1514
    John Knox was born in 1514 in or near Haddington, the county town of East Lothian, to William Knox, a farmer and Sinclair. His mother died when he was a child.
  • // 1540
    As a priest and a notary in 1540, Knox tutored two sons of Hugh Douglas of Longniddry and the son of John Cockburn of Ormiston who embraced the new religious ideas of the Reformation.
  • // 1545
    Knox became the bodyguard of George Wishart, a reformer who had returned to Scotland. In 1545, Wishart was arrested and taken to the Castle of St Andrews at the behest of Cardinal Beaton.
  • // Feb 1549
    Knox's chaplaincy ended when the French besieged the castle and took him and others as galley slaves. In February 1549, after spending a total of 19 months in the galley-prison, Knox was released
  • // 1551
    Appointed preacher of St Nicholas' Church in Newcastle, in1551, he was appointed as a royal chaplains serving the King. When John Dudley, 1st Duke of Northumberland, overthrew the regent, he condemned the coup d'état.
  • // 1554
    After Edward’s death in1554, he fled to Geneva and met French theologian John Calvin. He condemned Mary Tudor, Edward’ successor and accepted an invitation from a congregation of English exiles in Frankfurt.
  • // 1555
    Richard Cox, one of the authors of the Book of Common Prayer, brought Knox's pamphlet attacking the emperor to the attention of the Frankfurt authorities, who advised him to leave in 1555
  • // 1555
    He returned to Scotland in 1555 and preached for nine months the reformed doctrines. Welcomed by the nobility and regarded as a threat by the bishops, he was forced to return to Geneva.
  • // 1558
    In 1558, Knox published, First Blast of the Trumpet Against the Monstrous Regiment of Women, a polemical treatise against female sovereigns and their policies, but also against female rule over men generally.
  • // 1559
    He returned to Scotland in 1559, and within days of his arrival, he preached a violent sermon at Perth (Scotland) against Catholic "idolatry," causing a riot which he condemned
  • // 1559
    He next moved to St. Andrews, Stirling, and finally marched to Edinburgh, while the regent retreated to Dunbar and in 1559 he was chosen minister of the Edinburgh Protestants.
  • // 1559 To 1566
    The History of the Reformation in Scotland is a magnum opus written by Knox between 1559 and 1566. It has been used as an historical source since its full publication
  • // 1560
    The Protestants militarily occupied more cities and by the Treaty of Berwick (1560), the English now under Protestant Elizabeth I, and the French, agreed to leave Scotland assuring the future of Protestantism in Scotland
  • // 1564
    John Knox's first wife, Marjorie Bowes died early in his Edinburgh ministry and had two sons. In 1564, he married Margaret Stewart, who was seventeen and Knox three times as old and they had three daughters.

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John Knox's FAQ

  • When was John Knox died?

    John Knox was died at 1572-11-24

  • Where was John Knox died?

    John Knox was died in Edinburgh, Kingdom of Scotland

  • Which age was John Knox died?

    John Knox was died at age 58

  • Where is John Knox's birth place?

    John Knox was born in Near Haddington, East Lothian,, Kingdom of Scotland

  • What is John Knox nationalities?

    John Knox's nationalities is Scottish

  • Who is John Knox spouses?

    John Knox's spouses is Margaret, Marjorie Bowes

  • Who is John Knox childrens?

    John Knox's childrens is Eleazar, Nathaniel

  • What was John Knox universities?

    John Knox studied at University of St Andrews, University of Glasgow

  • Who is John Knox's father?

    John Knox's father is William Knox

  • Who is John Knox's mother?

    John Knox's mother is Sinclair

  • How famous is John Knox?

    John Knox is famouse as Protestant Leader