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St Thomas More was born in London, on February 7 1478 in Milk Street.Thomas More was born on February 7, 1478 and was martyred for the Church on July 6, 1535 in the Tower of London. St. Thomas More was a family man who cared very deeply for his son, three daughters, and step-daughter (he was remarried after his first wife died in childbirth). During his 57 years, More was trained in law, philosophy, and theology, and worked as a lawyer, judge, writer, politician.
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Attends St. Anthony’s School, London
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Enters Oxford for two years of study. During this time, he wrote comedies and studied Greek and Latin literature
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Entered as a law student at New Inn, London
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More became friends with Desiderius Erasmus. They produced many works together including Latin translations of Lucian's works. Erasmus also dedicated work to More The picture on the left is of Erasmus
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After considering the priesthood decides against it and marries Jane Colt, saying he would rather become a good husband than a bad priest.
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His first marriage to Jane Colt before she passed away in 1511 during child birth. Children Margaret, Elizabeth, Cicely, and John.
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Thomas More's first daughter Margaret is born. She was the eldest of Thomas and Jane’s four children. As well as attending to household chores, her days were spent studying; her father made sure his daughters had a proper, high standard education. More educated his family with a personal and loving care but also through wisely chosen teachers and tutors. His Children Margaret, Elizabeth, Cecily and John were taught Latin, Greek, Logic, Philosophy, Theology, Mathematics and Astronomy.
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Thomas More's wife Jane Colt died. He remarried to Dame Alice. He did not want to bring up his four children without a mother.
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In his work he established that king was a tyrant. This has been described as the first masterpiece of English historiography.
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He published his world-famous book "Utopia", describing an ideal society.He then attracted Henry VII's interest.Thomas More's Utopia changed the face of literature in many ways. It gave authors a new way to express their morals and values. It was seen as controversial as it contrasted life in Europe with a perfect society. It was
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He was knighted and made sub-treasurer to the king.
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More helped Henry VIII in writing his Defence of the Seven Sacraments, a denial of Luther, under a false name. In gratitude, Henry makes More a knight and he becomes SIR Thomas More. Henry later came to regret that book
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Was made Speaker of the House of Commons.During his time as a speaker More helped establish the governmental privilege of free speech.
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More became the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.
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He refused to promote King Henry VIII's plan to divorce Katherine of Aragón.
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More became Lord Chancellor just as Henry had become determined to obtain a divorce from Catherine of Aragon. The previous chancellor, Lord Wolsey, had failed to achieve this. Henry was close to breaking with the Church of Rome, and the supposed 'Reformation parliament' was about to begin.As chancellor it was his duty to enforce the laws against heretics
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By opposing Henry's plans in regard to the divorce, the papal supremacy, and the laws against heretics, quickly lost him the royal favour. He resigned his post of Lord Chancellor after holding it less than three years.
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For the next eighteen months More lived in seclusion and gave much time to controversial writing.
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He was arrested after declining to swear an oath of succession rejecting the pope and accepting the annulment of Henry's marriage. Four days later Thomas More was imprisoned in the Tower of London for over a year, where he prayed, wrote books and letters, and encouraged his fellow prisoners to hold strong to their faith in Christ and His Church
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Cardinal Fisher and Sir Thomas More had been imprisoned in the Tower of London for refusing to take the Oath to the Act of Succession.
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Parliament passes the Act of Supremacy , confirming King Henry VIII as Supreme head of the Church of England. Henry VIII decided to break off from the Church and spark the major beginning of the Protestant Reformation in England, which Thomas More tried hard to protect the Church against.
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It was this deep loyalty to his faith that made More such an important member of the Reformation. Thomas More was perhaps one of the strongest adversaries of reformation in London.
He had people burned at the stake for heresy. And spent most of the end of his political career trying to battle the theories expressed by Martin Luther. -
Sir Thomas was brought to trial in Westminster Hall. He defended himself effortlessly, and confirmed his knowledge of the common law. He had spoken to no one, not even his family, about the Act of Supremacy; therefore, in law, he was not guilty of denying any title claimed by Henry. A scared jury, subjected to the lying of Richard Rich, convicted More of treason.
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July 1, tried and convicted for treason, died on 6 July 1535, he was executed by beheading. His last words: "The King's servant, but God's first", were an inspiration to many. Click here for an overview of St Thomas More's life
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Thomas More was formally beatified by Pope Leo XIII
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He was canonizaed by Pope Pius XI, and his feast day is celebrated by the Church on June 22nd.
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Reformation Day, Pope John Paul II makes More the patron saint of politicians.
