Gérard Cauvin

Who was Gérard Cauvin?

Gérard Cauvin was the father of the Protestant Reformer John Calvin.

Cauvin lived in Noyon, France located in the province of Picardy. Cauvin was a man of hard and severe character, occupied a prominent position as apostolic secretary to Charles de Hangest, bishop of Noyon. He also served as proctor in the Chapter of the diocese and as fiscal procurator of the county. He lived on intimate terms with the best families of the neighborhood.

His wife Jeanne Lefranc, the daughter of an innkeeper at Cambrai, was noted for her beauty and piety. She died after giving birth to 6 children, with four sons and two daughters: Charles, John, Anthony, a fourth son who died during childhood, and then two daughters, one of whom was named Mary. After Lefranc's death, Cauvin married a woman with whom he would have two more daughters.

He became involved in financial embarrassment, and was excommunicated, perhaps on suspicion of heresy. He died May 26, 1531, after a long sickness, and would have been buried in unconsecrated soil but for the intercession of his oldest son, Charles, who gave security for the discharge of his father's obligations.