Sir Thomas More (7 February 1478 – 6 July 1535), venerated in the Catholic Church as Saint Thomas More, was an English lawyer, judge, social philosopher, author, statesman, and noted Renaissance humanist. He also served Henry VIII as Lord High Chancellor of England from October 1529 to May 1532.
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What was Sir Thomas More known for?
Sir Thomas More (7 February 1478 – 6 July 1535), venerated in the Catholic Church as Saint Thomas More, was an English lawyer, judge, social philosopher, author, statesman, and noted Renaissance humanist. He also served Henry VIII as Lord High Chancellor of England from October 1529 to May 1532.
What did Thomas More do for the Renaissance?
Sir Thomas More was named Chancellor in the 1500s where he fully supported the Catholic Church and entirely denounced the heretics of the Protestant Reformation and helped keep the Catholic Church afloat during the long period of criticism.
What did Sir Thomas do?
Thomas More, in full Sir Thomas More, also called Saint Thomas More, (born February 7, 1478, London, England—died July 6, 1535, London; canonized May 19, 1935; feast day June 22), English humanist and statesman, chancellor of England (1529–32), who was beheaded for refusing to accept King Henry VIII as head of the ...
Why was Thomas More Utopia important?
The book, written in 1516, is More's attempt to suggest ways to improve European society, using “Utopia” as an example. More was a major figure of the English Renaissance who cared deeply about the moral and political responsibilities of individuals.
Why is Sir Thomas More a hero?
As a hero, More is more existential than religious, because he looks inwardly for his motivations and does not rely on any external ideals to guide his speech and actions. In fact, More's morals are continually shifting, and he surprises Chapuys and other characters with his sharp wit and unexpected pragmatism.
What did Thomas More do wrong?
Thomas More is known for his 1516 book 'Utopia' and for his untimely death in 1535, after refusing to acknowledge King Henry VIII as head of the Church of England.
What was Thomas More legacy?
Legacy of Thomas More He was canonized by Pius XI in May 1935. Though the man is greater than the writer and though nothing in his life “became him like the leaving of it,” his “golden little book” Utopia has earned him greater fame than the crown of martyrdom or the million words of his English works.
Who was Thomas More?
Born on Milk Street in the City of London, on 7 February 1478, Thomas More was the son of Sir John More, a successful lawyer and later a judge, and his wife Agnes ( née Graunger). He was the second of six children. More was educated at St Anthony's School, then considered one of London's best schools. From 1490 to 1492, More served John Morton, the Archbishop of Canterbury and Lord Chancellor of England, as a household page. Morton enthusiastically supported the " New Learning " (scholarship which was later known as "humanism" or "London humanism"), and thought highly of the young More. Believing that More had great potential, Morton nominated him for a place at the University of Oxford (either in St. Mary Hall or Canterbury College, both now gone).
Where was Thomas More born?
Early life. Born on Milk Street in the City of London, on 7 February 1478, Thomas More was the son of Sir John More, a successful lawyer and later a judge, and his wife Agnes ( née Graunger). He was the second of six children. More was educated at St Anthony's School, then considered one of London's best schools.
What is the plaque in the middle of the floor of Westminster Hall?
A plaque in the middle of the floor of London's Westminster Hall commemorates More's trial for treason and condemnation to execution in that original part of the Palace of Westminster. The building, which houses Parliament, would have been well known to More, who served several terms as a member and became Speaker of the House of Commons before his appointment as England's Lord Chancellor.
What was Richard III's biography?
The History is a Renaissance biography , remarkable more for its literary skill and adherence to classical precepts than for its historical accuracy. Some consider it an attack on royal tyranny, rather than on Richard III himself or the House of York. More uses a more dramatic writing style than had been typical in medieval chronicles; Richard III is limned as an outstanding, archetypal tyrant—however, More was only seven years old when Richard III was killed at the Battle of Bosworth in 1485 so he had no first-hand, in-depth knowledge of him.
How many letters did Thomas More write?
As in the case of his friend Erasmus of Rotterdam, however, only a small portion of his correspondence (about 280 letters) survived. These include everything from personal letters to official government correspondence (mostly in English), letters to fellow humanist scholars (in Latin), several epistolary tracts, verse epistles, prefatory letters (some fictional) to several of More's own works, letters to More's children and their tutors (in Latin), and the so-called "prison-letters" (in English) which he exchanged with his oldest daughter Margaret while he was imprisoned in the Tower of London awaiting execution. More also engaged in controversies, most notably with the French poet Germain de Brie, which culminated in the publication of de Brie's Antimorus (1519). Erasmus intervened, however, and ended the dispute.
Where is the tomb of Thomas More?
A plaque and small garden commemorate the famed execution site on Tower Hill, London, just outside the Tower of London, as well as all those executed there, many as religious martyrs or as prisoners of conscience. More's corpse, minus his head, was unceremoniously buried in an unmarked mass grave beneath the Royal Chapel of St. Peter Ad Vincula, within the walls of the Tower of London, as was the custom for traitors executed at Tower Hill. The chapel is accessible to Tower visitors.
Where is Sir Thomas More's statue?
Sir Thomas More is commemorated with a sculpture at the late-19th-century Sir Thomas More House, Carey Street, London, opposite the Royal Courts of Justice.
Where was Thomas More born?
Early Years. Many historical records suggest that Thomas More was born in London, England, on February 7, 1478, although some scholars believe the year of his birth to be 1477. He attended St. Anthony's School in London, one of the best schools of his day, and as a youth served as a page in the household of John Morton, ...
What book did Thomas More write?
Thomas More is known for his 1516 book 'Utopia' and for his untimely death in 1535, after refusing to acknowledge King Henry VIII as head of the Church of England.
What did Erasmus write in Praise of Folly?
On Erasmus' third visit, in 1509, he stayed in More's home and wrote Praise of Folly, dedicating it to More. More was, meanwhile, torn between a life of civil service and a monastic calling, and he made the decision to work toward becoming a monk.
When was Thomas More beheaded?
Thomas More was beheaded on July 6, 1535. He left behind the final words: "The king's good servant, but God's first.". More was beatified in 1886 and canonized by the Catholic Church as a saint in 1935. He has also been deemed a "Reformation martyr" by the Church of England.
Who was the king of England in 1521?
In 1521, King Henry VIII responded to Luther with the assistance of More, in his Defence of the Seven Sacraments. By this time, More had become treasurer of England's exchequer, but he also served as "Henry's intellectual courtier," secretary and confidant, and, in 1523, he was elected speaker of the House of Commons.
Who was the reformer who wrote the doctrine of salvation?
In the Service of King Henry VIII. In 1520, reformer Martin Luther published three works setting out his doctrine of salvation, which, according to Luther, could be attained through grace alone; the series rejected certain Catholic practices and attacked others. In 1521, King Henry VIII responded to Luther with the assistance of More, ...
Who is Thomas More?
Thomas More (1478–1535) was an English lawyer, humanist, statesman, and Catholic martyr, whose paradoxical life is reflected in his contrasting titles: he was knighted by King Henry VIII in 1521 and canonized by Pope Pius XI in 1935. Born to an affluent mercantile and professional family, he was representative of the lively intellectual culture which had evolved in fifteenth century London and which provided a platform for the early manifestations of humanism. More's outlook was shaped by his legal role in the affairs of the city, then by far the largest in England with a population of about 50,000, and it was as a representative of city interests that he was first drawn into service of the Crown. This involvement with London's civic life also played its part in the conception of Utopia, his best known work, completed in 1516. His friendship with the Dutch scholar Desiderius Erasmus lasted over thirty years and was crucial to the development of his own ideas on literary studies, in particular the revival of Greek, and on the social possibilities of education. It was thanks to Erasmus that he was drawn into the literary networks of Northern humanism. While More cannot be classified in any formal sense as a philosopher, it is in his writings in defence of humanism and in Utopia that he can best be seen as an exponent of ideas. In the early years of their association More and Erasmus shared a critical interest in exposing the follies and abuses of contemporary life, not least in matters of religious practice; but once More was drawn into the savage polemics of the early Reformation he defended Catholic orthodoxy with all the weapons at his disposal. However, his efforts were compromised by a shift in government policy. His conscientious refusal to support King Henry's campaign to repudiate his marriage to Katherine of Aragon led to his retirement from public life and, ultimately, to imprisonment. During fourteen months in the Tower he wrote a number of devotional works which are in contrast to the severity of his polemical writings. Tried for treason, More was beheaded on 6 July 1535. His death caused widespread indignation on the Continent, where he was initially seen as a model of integrity, a Seneca-like counsellor who resisted a tyrannical ruler. His status as a Catholic martyr emerged later under the influence of the English Counter-Reformation.
Where was Thomas More born?
Born in Milk Street, Cripplegate, in February 1478, he was the son of a successful barrister, John More. Thomas began his education at St Anthony's, the outstanding grammar school in the city, but around 1490 he was placed as a page in the household of Cardinal John Morton, Archbishop of Canterbury and Lord Chancellor.
What city did Thomas More live in?
1. Life and Works. On the title-page of Utopia Thomas More identifies himself as a citizen of the renowned city of London. The city, with its privileges and corporate procedures, was central to his formation and to the style of his political thought.
What was the significance of the Lucianic discussions at the Old Barge?
These dealt not only with war but equally with the dangers of absolute rule: the Lucianic discussions at the Old Barge had stimula ted a radical critique of established social forms. Ironically, it was in that year of 1515 that More was first drawn into the service of the Crown.
What was Henry VII's demand for a retrospective subsidy to cover the expenses of his daughter's marriage to
It was in the course of this Parliament that Henry VII's demand for a retrospective subsidy to cover the expenses of his daughter's marriage to James IV of Scotland was rejected , and Roper attributes this substantially to More's intervention.
What did Augustine say in his letter to Martin Dorp?
Augustine would remain central to More's thinking, yet, in his 1515 letter to Martin Dorp, he takes the opportunity to criticize the saint's view on the corporeality of demons: Being a man, he could make a mistake. I take his word as seriously as anyone's, but I take no man's word unconditionally.
Why did More and Gillis retire to the garden of More's lodging?
More and Gillis, together with the wandering philosopher, Raphael Hythlodaeus, agree to retire to the garden of More's lodging in order to pursue their conversation. While this is initially concerned with Raphael's travels, it soon switches to the issue of political engagement.
When did Thomas More die?
On 6th July 1535, Thomas More’s illustrious career, budding writing talent, political voracity and religious piety came to an abrupt end. He was executed, a man who had served King Henry VIII devoutly and yet had stayed true to his beliefs and convictions until the end.
What is the story of the More's book?
This was a book written from the More’s perspective as a type of satire, telling a story of a make believe society on an island. Composed in Latin, the narrative describes the cultural customs of the society, depicting order, fairness and communal ownership of the island.
What was Henry VIII's most famous text?
During this period of achievement, More also found the time to produce his most famous text, “Utopia” which was published in 1516.
Why did Morton leave Oxford?
After attending university for two years and being exposed to a typical classical education, he left Oxford in order to follow in his father’s footsteps and pursue a career in law.
Who was the martyr of the Reformation?
In 1935, More’s life was formally recognised by Pope Pius XI when he chose to canonise More.
Who was John Morton?
This experience was to serve young More greatly, as Morton was a follower of an evolving philosophy on life and education, the roots of which could be described as humanism.
Who said "I die the king's faithful servant, but God's first"?
History Magazine. History UK. History of England. Sir Thomas More. by Jessica Brain. “I die the king’s faithful servant, but God’s first”. No sentence better summarises a man who dedicated himself to the service of the Crown and was destined to be venerated as a saint by the Catholic Church. Sir Thomas More lived in Tudor England.
Who was Thomas More?
Sir Thomas More was an English social philosopher and statesman who served as a councilor to King Henry VIII and Lord High Chancellor of England from 1529 to 1532. A noted Renaissance humanist and a staunch Catholic, he opposed the Protestant Reformation, in particular the theology of Martin Luther and William Tyndale.
What was Thomas More's childhood like?
Childhood & Early Life. Thomas More was born on 7 February 1478 to Sir John More and his wife Agnes. His father was a successful lawyer who later became a judge. Thomas received a good upbringing and was sent to one of the city’s finest schools, St. Anthony’s School, for his education. He became a household page to John Morton, ...
Why did Thomas More resign?
In view of his worsening relations with the King, More resigned from his position as the Chancellor in 1532, citing health reasons. In 1534, Thomas More was asked to take the Oath of Supremacy which required him to swear allegiance to the monarch as Supreme Governor of the Church of England.
Where did Thomas More go to school?
After completing his training in 1502, Thomas More was called to the Bar. Quotes: Nature, Character.
Who was the undersheriff of London in 1510?
In 1510, More was selected as one of the two undersheriffs of the City of London. This was a role that carried considerable responsibility and More soon became known for his honesty and hard work. He became Master of Requests in 1514 and was appointed Privy Councilor the same year.
Who was John Morton?
He became a household page to John Morton, the Archbishop of Canterbury and Lord Chancellor of England in 1490 and served him for two years. Morton was much impressed by More and nominated him for a place at Oxford University. He started studying at Oxford in 1492.
Who was Jane's second wife?
Jane died in 1511. More remarried within 30 days of her passing. His second wife was a rich widow named Alice Harpur Middleton. This marriage did not produce any children though he adopted Alice’s daughter from a previous marriage as his own.
Who was the Lord Chancellor of the Church in 1515?
The lord chancellor, Thomas Wolsey, now looked ready to implement some of the political ideas of the Christian humanists. Between 1515 and 1520 More campaigned spiritedly for Erasmus’s religious and cultural program—Greek studies as the key to a theology renewed by a return to the Bible and the Church Fathers—in poems commending Erasmus’s New ...
What happened on May 1 1517?
On May 1, 1517, a mob of London apprentices attacked foreign merchants in the city. More’s role in quenching this Evil May Day riot inspired a scene, attributed to Shakespeare, in Sir Thomas More, a composite Elizabethan play. More’s success in the thorny negotiations with the French at Calais and Boulogne (September to December 1517) ...
Why did Henry VIII leave the Bible open before him?
On More’s return from an embassy to France in the summer of 1527, Henry VIII “laid the Bible open before him” as proof that his marriage to Catherine of Aragon, who had failed to produce a male heir, was void, even incestuous, because of her previous marriage to Henry’s late brother.
Who was Sir Thomas More?
Sir Thomas More was a devout Catholic and a civil servant to King Henry in the sixteenth century. And during that time, it was hard to be all those things and not get beheaded. =”900″ height=”497″ /> Wikimedia Common Depiction of Thomas More with his daughter after his sentencing. Sir Thomas More was many things: a prominent philosopher, writer, ...
What did Thomas More do for the king?
Thomas More worked hard for the king. He wore many hats: chief diplomat, speechwriter, advisor. Thick as thieves, More and the king continued to establish a close relationship, with More rising up in the ranks. He was knighted in 1521, became speaker of the House of Commons in 1523, and earned the title of Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.
Why did Thomas More resign from the House of Commons?
He was also a venerated Catholic and saw the divorce as anti-Catholic. In 1532, More resigned from the House of Commons. His reasoning: “poor health.”. Though More’s failure to appear at the coronation of Anne Boleyn in June 1533 might have indicated that he was faking sick.
What was Thomas Moore's most famous work?
Meanwhile, multifaceted as he was, Sir Thomas Moore was always dabbling in his other interests. One such interest was writing. His most notable work was Utopia, written in 1516. It was a socio-political satire that was about a political system made from imaginary ideals. It’s where the term utopian society comes from today, ...
What was Sir Thomas More's final words?
Sir Thomas More was beheaded on July 6, 1535. His final words were: “I die the King’s good servant, and God’s first.”. Sir Thomas More’s execution underscored the tyranny that King Henry would later become well known for. In regards to his own reputation, Thomas More was seen as courageous and canonized as a saint by the Catholic Church in 1935.
What was Thomas More's punishment?
He was also found guilty of treason by King Henry, leading to an execution sentence carried out in the form of a beheading. Sir Thomas More was born in London on February 7, 1478. He went on to study at Oxford and had received enough education to become a lawyer. Instead, in 1517 he entered the king’s service.
When was Thomas More canonized?
In regards to his own reputation, Thomas More was seen as courageous and canonized as a saint by the Catholic Church in 1935. Now you might enjoy reading about five times Mother Teresa did more harm than good. Then, read about the six craziest popes in the history of the Catholic Church.
What was Thomas More's account of his execution?
Here is a contemporary account of Sir Thomas More’s execution:-. “About Nine he was brought out of the Tower; his Beard was long, his face pale and thin, and carrying a Red Cross in his Hand, he often lift up his Eyes to Heaven; a Woman meeting him with a cup of Wine, he refused it saying, Christ at his Passion drank no wine, but Gall and Vinegar.
Who was the only person to commit treason in 1534?
This “offence” was not made treasonable until the Treason Act of 1535 so how did More manage to commit treason in 1534?! The only evidence was the word of Richard Rich, a friend of Thomas Cromwell. He claimed that he had heard More denying that the King was Head of the Church.
Overview
Sir Thomas More (7 February 1478 – 6 July 1535), venerated in the Catholic Church as Saint Thomas More, was an English lawyer, judge, social philosopher, author, statesman, and noted Renaissance humanist. He also served Henry VIII as Lord High Chancellor of England from October 1529 to May 1532. He wrote Utopia, published in 1516, which describes the political system of an imaginar…
Early life
Born on Milk Street in the City of London, on 7 February 1478, Thomas More was the son of Sir John More, a successful lawyer and later a judge, and his wife Agnes (née Graunger). He was the second of six children. More was educated at St. Anthony's School , then considered one of London's best schools. From 1490 to 1492, More served John Morton, the Archbishop of Canterbury and Lord Chancellor of England, as a household page.
Spiritual life
According to his friend, the theologian Desiderius Erasmus of Rotterdam, More once seriously contemplated abandoning his legal career to become a monk. Between 1503 and 1504 More lived near the Carthusian monastery outside the walls of London and joined in the monks' spiritual exercises. Although he deeply admired their piety, More ultimately decided to remain a layman, standing for election to Parliament in 1504 and marrying the following year.
Family life
More married Jane Colt in 1505. In that year he leased a portion of a house known as the Old Barge (originally there had been a wharf nearby serving the Walbrook river) on Bucklersbury, St Stephen Walbrook parish, London. Eight years later he took over the rest of the house and in total he lived there for almost 20 years, until his move to Chelsea in 1525. Erasmus reported that Mor…
Early political career
In 1504 More was elected to Parliament to represent Great Yarmouth, and in 1510 began representing London.
From 1510, More served as one of the two undersheriffs of the City of London, a position of considerable responsibility in which he earned a reputation as an honest and effective public servant. More became Master of Requests in 1514, …
Chancellorship
After Wolsey fell, More succeeded to the office of Lord Chancellor in 1529. He dispatched cases with unprecedented rapidity.
More supported the Catholic Church and saw the Protestant Reformation as heresy, a threat to the unity of both church and society. More believed in the theology, argumentation, and ecclesiastical laws of the church, and "heard Lut…
Indictment, trial and execution
In 1533, More refused to attend the coronation of Anne Boleyn as the Queen of England. Technically, this was not an act of treason, as More had written to Henry seemingly acknowledging Anne's queenship and expressing his desire for the King's happiness and the new Queen's health. Despite this, his refusal to attend was widely interpreted as a snub against Anne, and Henry took action a…
Scholarly and literary work
Between 1512 and 1519 More worked on a History of King Richard III, which he never finished but which was published after his death. The History is a Renaissance biography, remarkable more for its literary skill and adherence to classical precepts than for its historical accuracy. Some consider it an attack on royal tyranny, rather than on Richard III himself or the House of York. More use…
Life and Works
The Theatre of Politics
The Defence of Humanism
Utopia
Reformation Polemics
Prison Writings
- More was confined in the Tower of London from April 1534 until hisexecution on 6 July 1535, and during this period he wrote severalworks, notably A Dialogue of Comfort and the unfinished Latinmeditation De tristitia Christi (“The Sadness ofChrist”). The letters written at this time to his daughterMargaret Roper offer a direct insight into his thoug...