John Calvin, French Jean Calvin or Jean Cauvin, (born July 10, 1509, Noyon, Picardy, France—died May 27, 1564, Geneva, Switzerland), theologian and ecclesiastical statesman. He was the leading French Protestant reformer and the most important figure in the second generation of the Protestant Reformation. Calvin's health suffered. ... John Calvin and Ignatius of Loyola were classmates at the University of Paris. ... Calvin rewrote his most famous work several times. ... Calvin was deeply influenced by Augustine. ... Nobody knows where Calvin is buried.