Martin Luther was a German priest, theologian, author, hymnwriter, professor, and former Augustinian friar. Luther was the seminal figure of the Protestant Reformation, and his theological beliefs form the basis of Lutheranism. He is considered one of the most influential figures in Western and Christian history. November 19, 1483 – February 28, 1546; died at 62. Alive at the same time as Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Christopher Columbus, Niccolò Machiavelli, and Michel de Montaigne. Wiki link