Alcuin of York was an English scholar, theologian, and educator born around 735 in York, England. He became a prominent figure in the Carolingian Renaissance, a revival of art, culture, and learning under the rule of Charlemagne. Alcuin was known for his work in reforming education and promoting literacy throughout the Frankish Empire. He served as the head of the palace school at Aachen, where he taught various subjects, including grammar, rhetoric, and mathematics. Alcuin also played a key role in the development of the Carolingian minuscule, a clear and legible script that improved the readability of texts.