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| "I die the king's good servant, but God's first." Last words of Saint Thomas More |
A Short Biography of St. Thomas More
martyr, born in London, 7 February, 1477-78;
executed at Tower Hill, 6 July, 1535.
He was the son of John More, a prominent lawyer. As
a boy he served as a page in the household of
Archbishop Morton. He studied at Oxford, and the
public affairs. In 1499 he determined to become a in
public affairs. In 1499 he determined to become a
monk and subjected himself to the discipline of the
monk and subjected himself to the discipline of the
Carthusians.
During his early manhood, he wrote comedies and
spent much time in the study of Greek and Latin
literature. One of his first works was a translation of a
biography of Pico della Mirandola (1463-1494); he
became a close friend with Desiderius Erasmus (ca.
1466-1536) and he, like them, became a great
humanist. More's sense of obligation to active
citizenship and statesmanship finally won out over his
monastic inclinations. He entered the parliament in
1504. In 1510, he was appointed undersheriff of
London.
During the next decade, More attracted the attention
of King Henry VIII, and served frequently on
diplomatic missions to the Low Countries. In 1518 he
became a member of the Privy Council; he was
knighted in 1521. Two years later, More was made
Speaker of the House of Commons. As speaker of
the House of Commons in 1523, More helped
establish the parliamentary privilege of free speech.
He refused to endorse King Henry VIII's plan to
divorce Catherine of Aragon (1527) and marry Ann
Boleyn. Nevertheless, after the fall of Thomas
Wolsey in 1529, More became Lord Chancellor of
England. He was the first layman to hold the post. His
work in the law courts was exemplary, but he
resigned in 1532, citing ill health and probably feeling
that he could not in conscience serve a government
that was interfering with the church. Two years later
he was imprisoned in the Tower of London for
refusing to acknowledge Henry as supreme head of
the Church of England. He was found guilty of
treason, on evidence that was probably perjured. He
was beheaded on July 6, 1535. More was canonized
in 1935.
*Info from Luminarium, an online anthology of medieval, renaissance
and 17th century literature.
martyr, born in London, 7 February, 1477-78;
executed at Tower Hill, 6 July, 1535.
He was the son of John More, a prominent lawyer. As
a boy he served as a page in the household of
Archbishop Morton. He studied at Oxford, and the
public affairs. In 1499 he determined to become a in
public affairs. In 1499 he determined to become a
monk and subjected himself to the discipline of the
monk and subjected himself to the discipline of the
Carthusians.
During his early manhood, he wrote comedies and
spent much time in the study of Greek and Latin
literature. One of his first works was a translation of a
biography of Pico della Mirandola (1463-1494); he
became a close friend with Desiderius Erasmus (ca.
1466-1536) and he, like them, became a great
humanist. More's sense of obligation to active
citizenship and statesmanship finally won out over his
monastic inclinations. He entered the parliament in
1504. In 1510, he was appointed undersheriff of
London.
During the next decade, More attracted the attention
of King Henry VIII, and served frequently on
diplomatic missions to the Low Countries. In 1518 he
became a member of the Privy Council; he was
knighted in 1521. Two years later, More was made
Speaker of the House of Commons. As speaker of
the House of Commons in 1523, More helped
establish the parliamentary privilege of free speech.
He refused to endorse King Henry VIII's plan to
divorce Catherine of Aragon (1527) and marry Ann
Boleyn. Nevertheless, after the fall of Thomas
Wolsey in 1529, More became Lord Chancellor of
England. He was the first layman to hold the post. His
work in the law courts was exemplary, but he
resigned in 1532, citing ill health and probably feeling
that he could not in conscience serve a government
that was interfering with the church. Two years later
he was imprisoned in the Tower of London for
refusing to acknowledge Henry as supreme head of
the Church of England. He was found guilty of
treason, on evidence that was probably perjured. He
was beheaded on July 6, 1535. More was canonized
in 1935.
*Info from Luminarium, an online anthology of medieval, renaissance
and 17th century literature.
| St. Thomas More, by Hans Holbein |
Sir Thomas More Pages from Luminarium focusing on his literary works and biographies. The St. Thomas More Web page A Description of Thomas More by Erasmus Links to Utopia (More's most famous book) and Other Writings The Story of St. Thomas More by John Farrow. Online edition at CIN (Catholic Information Network). Bio of St. Thomas More by his son-in-law, William Roper Thomas More Societies |
| Last updated 04-12-08. |
