Richard Hooker was an English theologian and priest in the Church of England, born in 1554. He is best known for his work "Of the Laws of Ecclesiastical Polity," which laid the foundation for Anglican theology. Hooker emphasized the importance of reason, tradition, and scripture in understanding faith and governance within the church. Hooker's ideas helped shape the Anglican tradition, promoting a middle way between Roman Catholicism and Protestantism. His writings influenced later thinkers and contributed to the development of religious tolerance and the relationship between church and state in England.