Jean-Claude Colin was a French priest born in 1790 who established the Society of Mary. Raised in the Beaujolais region, he was orphaned at a young age due to the political instability of the French Revolution. Despite being a reserved student, he excelled in his seminary studies in Lyon. Following his ordination in 1816, he worked alongside colleagues to fulfill a vision of forming a religious order dedicated to the Virgin Mary. He served as the first Superior General of the Marists, overseeing the growth of the community and its missionary work.