Guillaume Farel, a French reformer, born near Gap, in Dauphiny, in 1489, died in Neuf-chatel, Sept. 13, 1565. While studying at Paris he embraced the new doctrines, and went with his friend Lefevre d'Etaples to Meaux, where he began to preach, lie returned to Paris in 1523, went to Basel the next year, became intimate with Zwingli, Haller, Grebel, and other reformers, quarrelled with Erasmus, and was banished from Basel, all within a few weeks, and then retired to Strasburg, where he was intimate with Bucer. Preaching afterward at Montbeliard and other places, his intemperate zeal drew him into many troubles. One day he interrupted a procession in honor of St. Anthony by snatching the statue of the saint and throwing it into the river. To escape the consequences he fled, and travelled in Alsace and Switzerland. In 1527 he went to Aigle and taught school under an assumed name. In 1532, with Antoine Saunier, he represented the reformed churches in the synod convened by the Vaudois of Piedmont at Chan-forans, and on his return was invited to a conference with the Catholics at Geneva, where the controversy became stormy, blows were exchanged, and the magistrates had to interfere.

He was ordered to leave the city, returned in 1533, was again banished, came back in 1534 with letters from the Seigniory of Bern, and in 1536 persuaded Calvin to aid him in the organization of the reformed church at Geneva. The party of "Libertines" gaining the upper hand in the election of 1538, Farel and Calvin were banished. Farel went to Strasburg, and organized the Protestants there amid much opposition. In March, 1543, a body of troops under Claude de Guise fell upon a congregation gathered around him at Gorze in France. Farel was wounded, and narrowly escaped with his life. He then settled as pastor at Neufchatel. In 1557 he was sent to the Protestant princes of Germany to ask their assistance for the Vaudois, and soon after he incurred the displeasure of Calvin and others by marrying a young girl. In 1561 he preached at Gap with all the violence of his youth, and was thrown into prison, from which his followers released him, letting him down from the rampart in a basket. Farel was a fine scholar and excited great admiration by the brilliancy of his oratory.

His writings were numerous, but mostly of temporary interest.