Geert Groote, also known as Gerhard Groet, was a religious Dutch Catholic deacon who founded the Brethren of Common Life. He was born in the Hanseatic city of Deventer, where his father held a good civic position. Being born into a rich family, he received an excellent education. He studied at the University of Paris, where he earned a Master of Arts degree. He later taught at Cologne and Paris, but at the age of 34,