-
Feb 7, 1478
Birth
St Thomas More was born in London, on February 7 1478 in Milk Street.Thomas More was born on February 7, 1478 and was martyred for the Church on July 6, 1535 in the Tower of London. St. Thomas More was a family man who cared very deeply for his son, three daughters, and step-daughter (he was remarried after his first wife died in childbirth). During his 57 years, More was trained in law, philosophy, and theology, and worked as a lawyer, judge, writer, politician. -
Period: Feb 7, 1478 to Jul 6, 1535
The Life of St Thomas More
-
Period: Jan 1, 1484 to Jan 1, 1489
Schooling
Attends St. Anthony’s School, London -
Jan 1, 1492
Studied at Oxford University, London.
Enters Oxford for two years of study. During this time, he wrote comedies and studied Greek and Latin literature -
Period: Jan 1, 1493 to Jan 1, 1495
Pre-law student, New Inn, London
-
Jan 1, 1494
Studied law
Entered as a law student at New Inn, London -
Jan 1, 1499
Became friends with Erasmus
More became friends with Desiderius Erasmus. They produced many works together including Latin translations of Lucian's works. Erasmus also dedicated work to More The picture on the left is of Erasmus -
Period: Jan 1, 1503 to Jan 1, 1506
Lectured in law at Furnivall’s Inn
-
Jan 1, 1504
First Marriage
After considering the priesthood decides against it and marries Jane Colt, saying he would rather become a good husband than a bad priest. -
Jan 1, 1504
Became part of parliament
-
Period: Jan 1, 1504 to Jan 1, 1511
First Marriage
His first marriage to Jane Colt before she passed away in 1511 during child birth. Children Margaret, Elizabeth, Cicely, and John. -
Jul 10, 1505
Birth of his first daughter (Margaret Roper)
Thomas More's first daughter Margaret is born. She was the eldest of Thomas and Jane’s four children. As well as attending to household chores, her days were spent studying; her father made sure his daughters had a proper, high standard education. More educated his family with a personal and loving care but also through wisely chosen teachers and tutors. His Children Margaret, Elizabeth, Cecily and John were taught Latin, Greek, Logic, Philosophy, Theology, Mathematics and Astronomy. -
Jan 1, 1511
Death of wife and remarriage
Thomas More's wife Jane Colt died. He remarried to Dame Alice. He did not want to bring up his four children without a mother. -
Jan 1, 1515
Wrote: 'The History of Richard III'
In his work he established that king was a tyrant. This has been described as the first masterpiece of English historiography. -
Jan 1, 1516
Published "Utopia"
He published his world-famous book "Utopia", describing an ideal society.He then attracted Henry VII's interest.Thomas More's Utopia changed the face of literature in many ways. It gave authors a new way to express their morals and values. It was seen as controversial as it contrasted life in Europe with a perfect society. It was -
Jan 1, 1521
Knighted
He was knighted and made sub-treasurer to the king. -
Jan 1, 1521
Helped write Defence of the Seven Sacraments
More helped Henry VIII in writing his Defence of the Seven Sacraments, a denial of Luther, under a false name. In gratitude, Henry makes More a knight and he becomes SIR Thomas More. Henry later came to regret that book -
Jan 1, 1523
Became Speaker in House of Commons
Was made Speaker of the House of Commons.During his time as a speaker More helped establish the governmental privilege of free speech. -
Jan 1, 1525
Became Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
More became the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. -
Jan 1, 1527
Did not endorse Henry VII divorce
He refused to promote King Henry VIII's plan to divorce Katherine of Aragón. -
Jan 1, 1529
Became Lord Chancellor
More became Lord Chancellor just as Henry had become determined to obtain a divorce from Catherine of Aragon. The previous chancellor, Lord Wolsey, had failed to achieve this. Henry was close to breaking with the Church of Rome, and the supposed 'Reformation parliament' was about to begin.As chancellor it was his duty to enforce the laws against heretics -
May 1, 1532
Resigned from post as Lord Chancellore
By opposing Henry's plans in regard to the divorce, the papal supremacy, and the laws against heretics, quickly lost him the royal favour. He resigned his post of Lord Chancellor after holding it less than three years. -
Period: May 1, 1532 to Nov 1, 1533
Controversial Writing
For the next eighteen months More lived in seclusion and gave much time to controversial writing. -
Jan 1, 1534
Rejected Henry VIII and arrested
He was arrested after declining to swear an oath of succession rejecting the pope and accepting the annulment of Henry's marriage. Four days later Thomas More was imprisoned in the Tower of London for over a year, where he prayed, wrote books and letters, and encouraged his fellow prisoners to hold strong to their faith in Christ and His Church -
Apr 17, 1534
Imprisoned
Cardinal Fisher and Sir Thomas More had been imprisoned in the Tower of London for refusing to take the Oath to the Act of Succession. -
Nov 3, 1534
Act of Supremacy
Parliament passes the Act of Supremacy , confirming King Henry VIII as Supreme head of the Church of England. Henry VIII decided to break off from the Church and spark the major beginning of the Protestant Reformation in England, which Thomas More tried hard to protect the Church against. -
Jan 1, 1535
About his part in the Reformation
It was this deep loyalty to his faith that made More such an important member of the Reformation. Thomas More was perhaps one of the strongest adversaries of reformation in London.
He had people burned at the stake for heresy. And spent most of the end of his political career trying to battle the theories expressed by Martin Luther. -
Jul 1, 1535
Brought to Trial
Sir Thomas was brought to trial in Westminster Hall. He defended himself effortlessly, and confirmed his knowledge of the common law. He had spoken to no one, not even his family, about the Act of Supremacy; therefore, in law, he was not guilty of denying any title claimed by Henry. A scared jury, subjected to the lying of Richard Rich, convicted More of treason. -
Jul 6, 1535
Death
July 1, tried and convicted for treason, died on 6 July 1535, he was executed by beheading. His last words: "The King's servant, but God's first", were an inspiration to many. Click here for an overview of St Thomas More's life -
Beatified
Thomas More was formally beatified by Pope Leo XIII -
Canonization
He was canonizaed by Pope Pius XI, and his feast day is celebrated by the Church on June 22nd. -
Becomes Patron saint of politians
Reformation Day, Pope John Paul II makes More the patron saint of politicians.
