Johann Heinrich Bullinger was born in the Swiss canton of Argau. In 1523, he cast his support to the reformer Zwingli. After Zwingli's death in the battle of Kappel (1531), Bullinger succeeded him as chief pastor of Zurich, remaining in that post for the next forty years. Bullinger enjoyed great prestige in England and was a close associate of several European reformers, including Crandall, Melancthon, Calvin and Beza. In 1566 he wrote the Second Helvetic Confession.