Calvin's father, an attorney, sent him to the University of Paris to study humanities and law. By 1532, he was a Doctor of Law at Orléans. His first published work was a commentary on the Roman philosopher Seneca.
In 1536, he settled in Geneva, halted in the path of an intended journey to Basel by the personal persuasion of the reformer William Farel. He would live there until his death.
For three years Calvin worked in Strasbourg at a church of French Huguenots. Calvin was invited back some time later and reorganized the structure of Geneva along biblical lines such as ministers, teachers, elders and deacons. In 1559 Calvin founded a school for training children as well as a hospital for the indigent.
Calvin's health began to fail when he suffered migraines, lung hemorrhages, gout and kidney stones. At times, he was carried to the pulpit. Calvin also had his detractors. He was threatened and abused. Calvin would spend his private moments on Lake Geneva and read scripture while drinking red wine. Towards the end Calvin said to his friends who were worried about his daily regimen of work, "What! Would you have the Lord find me idle when He comes?"
John Calvin died in Geneva on May 27, buried in a simple unmarked grave somewhere in Geneva by his own request.
