Thomas Aquinas, O.P. (28 January 1225 – 7 March 1274), also Thomas of Aquin or Aquino, was an Italian[2][3] Dominican priest, and an immensely influential philosopher and theologian in the tradition of scholasticism, within which he is also known as the "Doctor Angelicus", "Doctor Communis", and "Doctor Universalis".[4] He is frequently referred to as Thomas because "Aquinas" is the demonym of Aquino, his home town, rather than a surname.