(1467-1536), a celebrated scholar and writer, born in Rotterdam, Holland. He was ordained for the priesthood, but soon entered the University of Paris and spent most of his life in France, England, Holland and Italy. He was seldom connected with any institution of learning, but acted as a private tutor and was for a short time professor of theology and Greek at Cambridge University. He became widely known through his writings and lectures and was regarded as the ablest scholar of his time. He was an intimate associate of Luther, but when the Reformation broke out he sided with neither party. Erasmus contributed considerably to the importance of education. He divided it into four parts, religious or ethical culture, intellectual culture, material culture and formal culture. By material culture he meant about the same as is now included under manual training. He believed in private instruction and was opposed to large schools, because of their influence on the health and morals of the pupils. He advocated the education of girls on a plan similar to that for boys; he also declared that rich parents should teach their children some trade.