The most important leader of German humanism "No works cited" The most brilliant and important leader of German humanism, n. at Rotterdam, Holland, October 28, probably 1466; D. in Basel, Switzerland, 12 July 1536. He was the illegitimate son of Gerard, citizen of Gouda, and Margaretha Rogers, and later Latinized his name as Desiderius Erasmus. His father eventually became a priest. Erasmus and an older brother were raised in Gouda by their mother. When he was nine he was sent to the school of the famous humanist Hegius in Deventer, where his taste for humanism was awakened.