Thomas More

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Study for portrait of the More family, by Hans Holbein the Younger

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Nb pinacoteca yeames the meeting of sir thomas more with his daughter after his sentence of death

History of the great reformation in Europe in the times of Luther and Calvin.. (1870) (14785678593)

Thomas More Tomb

Thomas More (7 February 1478 – 6 July 1535), also known as Sir Thomas More, was an English lawyer, social philosopher, author, statesman, and noted Renaissance humanist. He also served Henry VIII as Lord High Chancellor of England from October 1529 to 16 May 1532. More is recognized for his 1516 book Utopia, a work of social and political satire, and for his staunch opposition to the Protestant Reformation, particularly the theology of Martin Luther and William Tyndale. His disagreements with Henry VIII regarding the annulment of the king's marriage to Catherine of Aragon and the subsequent establishment of the Church of England led to his execution. More was canonized by the Catholic Church as a martyr and declared a saint in 1935.

Early Life and Education

Thomas More was born in London on 7 February 1478, the son of Sir John More, a successful lawyer and later a judge, and his wife Agnes (née Graunger). He was educated at St Anthony's School in London before being placed as a page in the household of Archbishop John Morton, who saw great potential in the young More. Morton nominated him for a place at the University of Oxford (either in St. Mary Hall or Canterbury College, both now gone), where he studied classics and philosophy for two years before leaving without earning a degree. More then studied law at New Inn and Lincoln's Inn, qualifying as a barrister in 1501.

Career

More's legal career was distinguished and rapidly advancing. He entered the Parliament of England in 1504, where he quickly made a name for himself. More became undersheriff of the City of London in 1510, a position that allowed him to practice law more freely and to come into contact with a wide range of people and ideas. His reputation as a humanist scholar grew during this period, as did his circle of friends, including Erasmus of Rotterdam, with whom he shared a deep intellectual and personal bond.

In 1516, More published Utopia, a Latin work depicting a fictional island society and its religious, social, and political customs. The book was a critique of European society, advocating for social and economic reforms.

More's opposition to the Reformation, particularly his refusal to acknowledge Henry VIII as the Supreme Head of the Church of England, eventually led to his downfall. He resigned as Lord Chancellor in 1532, citing ill health, but his resignation was also a protest against Henry's policies. In 1534, More refused to take the Oath of Supremacy, recognizing Henry VIII's supremacy over the Church in England. This refusal led to his arrest, trial, and execution for treason in 1535.

Death and Legacy

Thomas More was executed by beheading on 6 July 1535. His final words on the scaffold were that he was "the king's good servant, but God's first." More's steadfastness in his faith and his intellectual contributions made him a martyr in the eyes of the Catholic Church, which canonized him in 1935. His life and works have inspired numerous literary and historical works, including Robert Bolt's play A Man for All Seasons.

More's legacy is complex; he is venerated as a saint and martyr by the Catholic Church and remembered as a man of conscience and principle. However, his role in persecuting heretics and his stance against the Reformation have been subjects of criticism.

Works

• Utopia (1516)
• History of King Richard III (unfinished)
• Various letters and theological treatises

See Also

• Renaissance humanism
• Reformation
• Henry VIII of England
• Church of England
• Canonization

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