John Calvin (1509-1564) and Calvanism

John Calvin was the Reformations supreme Bible teacher. Young John had originally planned a life of of quiet scholarship but a ‘sudden conversion’- his phrase- at age of 20 led him to want God’s will rather than his own.

Born a French man he found himself exiled in Geneva, Switzerland for most of his adult life. With maximum public exposure he became a preacher and teacher of the Bible, pastor. reformer, theologian and universal Christian counselor.
In the book *Great Leaders of the Christian Church

James I. Packer lays a very sound foundation. He writes about Calvin the man, his will. sudden conversion and called to Geneva and Calvinism in Europe (See notes). He also covers John’s Geneva, theology and knowledge of God.

John developed hie theology in his biblical commentaries as well as his sermons and treaties but the most concise expression of his views are found in his magnum opus * Institutes of the Christian Religion* It was and is
Protestantism’ s classic statement. Over the years the book grew! Edition 1 was 6 chapters (1536), edition 2 - 3 times larger (1539), edition 3 added new material (1543) and finally edition 4 - consisted of 4 books of 80 chapters each (1559)
Book 1 God the Creator, bk.2 Redeemer in Christ. Bk.3 Receiving the Grace of Christ through the Holy Spirit bk.4 Society of Christ or the Church

The theology of John Calvin has been more influential in both the development of the system of belief now known as Calvinism and in Protestant thought more generally.

Anchored in Geneva John became an international figure in his own life time. The modern world can hardly be understood without some knowledge of Calvinism.

Sources used
wikipedia
Great Leaders of the Christian Church edited by Woodbridge
Christianity Today
What is calvinism? by John Piper

Note The wikipedia site has a fantastic amount of information about John and Calvanism.