Thomas Aquinas was an Italian Dominican friar and priest, theologian, and philosopher. He is considered one of the most influential thinkers in the history of Catholic theology and Western philosophy. He is the father of a school of thought known as Thomism. February 1, 1225 – March 21, 1274; died at 49. Alive at the same time as Marco Polo, Rumi, Fibonacci, Kublai Khan, and Albertus Magnus. Wiki link