Who was Thomas More?
Statesman and Writer.
Date and Place of Birth:
7th February 1477, London, England.
Family Background:
Eldest son of John More, a lawyer.
Education:
St. Anthony’s School, Threadneedle Street, London.
The household of John Morton, Archbishop of Canterbury. Oxford University
under the tutelage of John Colet and Thomas Linacre. Completed legal
studies at Lincoln's Inn, London.
Chronology/Biography of Sir Thomas More:
1506: Became a Member
of Parliament and Under-Sheriff of London in the reign of King Henry
the Seventh.
1514: He was introduced
to King Henry the Eighth by Thomas Wolsey
and became Master of Requests.
1516: Wrote his
most famous work, "Utopia".
1521: Became Treasurer
of the Exchequer.
1525: Became Chancellor
of the Duchy of Lancaster. Also made Speaker of the House of Commons
and went on several diplomatic missions to the French Court of King
Francis the First.
1529: Created Lord
Chancellor on the fall of Wolsey despite
his desire not to take the post.
Statue of Sir Thomas More outside Chelsea Old Church
on Chelsea Embankment, London
(© Anthony Blagg)
1532: Resigned the
Chancellorship as he didn't agree with the religious views them
being taken on by the King.
1534: King Henry
was created head of the Church of England and Defender of the Faith.
More wouldn't recognise any ruler of the church other than the Pope
and was tried for High Treason. He was imprisoned in the Tower of
London for a year but still refused to recant.
Written Works:
- 1512:
“Life of John Picus, Earl of Mirandula “(Translation).
- 1513: "History
of King Richard the Third".
- 1516:
“Utopia” (In Latin) 1551 (In English).
- 1529:
“Dialogue of Diverse Matters.” “The Supplication of Souls (Against
Fisher's The Supplication of Beggars).”
- 1532:
“Confutation of Tyndale.”
- 1533:
“The Apology of Sir Thomas More, Knight.”
- 1543:
“History of Richard the Third” (Reproduced in Hardying's Chronicle
of England).
- 1553: “Dialogue
of Comfort.”
- 1559: “Works
Written in English” (Edited by William Rastell).
Marriage:
1. 1505 to Jane Colt at Royden Parish Church.
2. 1511 to Alice Middleton at the Parish Church of St. Stephen,
Walbrook.
Date and Place of Death:
6th July 1535, Beheaded in London, England.
Age at Death:
57.
Site of Grave:
St. Peter ad Vincula, Tower of London, England
(Head in St. Dunstan's Church, Canterbury, Kent, England.
Places of Interest:
LONDON:
The Tower of London
Statue outside Chelsea Old Church, Chelsea Embankment.
