St Thomas More

Birth of Thomas More

Feb 7, 1478

Thomas More, second born child (first born son), son of lawyer Sir John More and Agnes Graunger More, is born on Milk Street, Cheapside in London.

Schooling Life

Jan 1, 1480

Thomas More attends St Anthony's Catholic School as a child.

Attending University

Jan 1, 1494

Thomas More follows in his fathers footsteps and attends Oxford University in London to study Law. He did however consider and even try becoming a monk beforehand.

Thomas More

Period: Jan 1, 1494 to Jan 1, 1496

During the time Thomas was in university he wrote comedies and studied Greek and Latin literature

Finishing University

Dec 31, 1496

Thomas completes his course, at Oxford, for law after two years.

Friendship

Jan 1, 1499

Thomas More becomes close friends with Desiderius Erasmus.

Thomas More enters Parliament

Jan 1, 1504

Thomas More enters Parliament (King Henry VII is in power).

Thomas More's 1st Marriage

Jan 1, 1505

Thomas More marries Joanna/Joan Colt in January 1505. Joanna was the mother of all his children.

Life of Margaret More

Period: Jan 1, 1505 to Jan 1, 1544

Photo of Margaret More
Thomas More and Joanna More gives birth to Margaret More. (First child), married to Married William Roper, mother of 5.

Correspondence with Desiderius Erasmus

Jan 1, 1506

Thomas More and Desiderius Erasmus translate Lucian's works into Latin.

Life of Elizabeth More

Period: Jan 1, 1506 to Jan 1, 1564

Image of Elizabeth more
Married William Daunce, mother of seven children

Life of Cecily More

Period: Jan 1, 1507 to Jan 1, 1540

Image of Cecily More
Married Giles Heron, mother of three. Exact time of death unknown... estimated to be around 1540.

Dedication to More

Jan 1, 1509

Desiderius Erasmus writes the 'Encomium Moriae' also known as Praise of Folly, dedicating it to Thomas More.

Not in King Henry VII's favour

Jan 1, 1509

Thomas More fought to lower the King's pay. This upset King Henry VII and for revenge put Thomas's father, Sir John More, in prison and exiled Thomas.

Life of John More II

Period: Jan 1, 1509 to Jan 1, 1547

Image of Anne Cresacre
Married Anne Cresacre, Father of eight children

Passing of King Henry VII

Jan 2, 1509

King Henry VII dies, Sir John More is released and Thomas More is no longer withdrawn from public life.

Back into Society

Jan 1, 1510

Thomas More is appointed one of the two undersheriffs of London and gained a reputation as a 'Patron to the Poor'. Due to the fact that King Henry VII died.

Death of Joanna More

Jan 1, 1511

Joanna More, Thomas' first wife died.

Thomas Marries for the second time

Jan 2, 1511

Thomas Marries Alice Middleton within months of Joanna's passing away.

King Henry VIII

Jan 3, 1515

King Henry VIII appoints Thomas More to help clear disputes about the wool trade.

Utopia

Jan 1, 1516

Thomas writes a book called 'Utopia'. the book was his views on why he refused for the King to be the Supreme Head of the Church of England.

Becoming a member

Jan 1, 1518

Thomas More becomes a permanent member of the Privy Council.

St Thomas More Knighted

Jan 1, 1521

St Thomas More knighted by King Henry VIII

Sir Thomas becomes Speaker of the House of Commons

Jan 1, 1523

Sir Thomas More is made Speaker of the House of Commons because he helped King Henry VIII write the Defence of the Seven Sacraments.

Speaker of the House of Commons

Mar 22, 1523

More is made the Speaker of the House of Commons.

Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster

Mar 22, 1523

More is made Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.

Resigning from the Parliament

Jan 1, 1532

Sir Thomas More resigns from the parliament claiming it is due to ill health. However was most likely his disagreement with King Henry the VIII's attitude toward the church.

Act of Succession

Apr 1, 1534

Sir Thomas More would not swear to the Act of Succession, which was to entitle Princess Mary to be next in line for the throne, this was not what King Henry VIII wanted so he sent Thomas to be executed.

Tower of London

Apr 17, 1534

Thomas is sent to the Tower of London.

Sir Thomas More's Execution

Jul 6, 1535

Sir Thomas More is beheaded on the 6th of July 1535, due to being found guilty of treason. His final words were: 'The King's Good Servant, but God's First.

Death of Alice Middleton

Jan 1, 1551

Alice Middleton, Thomas' second wife passes.

Beatification

Dec 29, 1886

Sir Thomas More is beatified by Pope Leo III.

Canonisation of Sir Thomas More

May 19, 1935

He is canonised by Pope Pius XI.