Myconius (or Geisshäusler), Oswald (1488-1552)

Swiss religious reformer. He was a close friend of Ulrich Zwingli and a collaborator in his reforming work. His writings included a number of biblical commentaries and the first biography of Zwingli, published in 1536.

Myconius was born at Lucerne and studied in Rottweil and Basel before coming to Zürich to teach in the cathedral school there. He played an influential role in securing the appointment of his friend Ulrich Zwingli as minister. In 1531 Myconius was called to Basel, where he succeeded Oecolampadius as chief minister, and he remained there for the rest of his life. He supervised the publication of the Basel Confession of 1534 and helped draft the first Helvetic Confession of 1536.