Desiderius Erasmus – birth, Oct. 26, 1466

Desiderius Erasmus was born this date 10/26/1466.  He was Dutch scholar and editor who was the first “best-selling” author.  Of course, he had the advantage of writing after the invention of the movable-type for the printing press.  He produced a Greek New Testament which had a degree of influence on Tyndale (England) and Zwingli (Switzerland). 

He might be called a pseudo reformer, seeing some of what Luther saw but (so unlike Luther) being unwilling to leave the Roman Catholic system, seeking rather to reform through scholarship. He also penned a satire, Praise of Folly which was more popular, in his life, than his Greek New Testament. You may also see his birthday as the 27^th or 28^th.)