Colet shares with Thomas More the distinction of being one of England’s two best known Christian Humanists and theologians. He was born into a wealthy family—his father was several times Lord Mayor of London—and while studying in Italy was influenced by the reformer Savonarola. Upon his return to England he proved his great knowledge of biblical Greek by lecturing at Oxford on the Epistles of Paul. He was an intimate friend of Thomas More and Erasmus. He became dean of St Paul’s in 1505 and anticipated the Reformation by his scriptural preaching and emphasis on clerical reform. He was the founder of the famous St Paul’s School.