Thomas More was renowned for his charm, wit, integrity, and strict spiritual discipline. He was educated by John Morton, archbishop of Canterbury and debated whether to become a friar or a priest, then opted for a career in law and marriage.

Henry VIII recognised More’s ability very early in his reign and promoted him to various offices. More entered parliament in 1504 and became a well-known public figure, holding several important offices. Thomas More ably backed Henry’s stand against Martin Luther, which earned Henry the title, “Defender of the Faith”.

Thomas became well known for his intellectual brilliance, wit, and obvious moral integrity. He had much sympathy with the new intellectual humanism sweeping Europe, and was deeply influenced by its best known promoter Erasmus. More’s best known contribution to this field was 'Utopia' (1516), a treatise depicting an ideal island state.

In 1529 Henry VIII made Thomas More the Lord High Chancellor of England. More carried through some of Henry’s reforms of the clergy. Then Henry unable to father a son with Catherine of Aragon, sought an annulment of his marriage but she had done nothing to merit being put aside, apart from not providing a son and heir, so the Pope refused Henry an annulment. Henry reacted with the Act of Succession in 1534 declaring the king to be “the only supreme head of the Church in England” and establishing his marriage to Anne Boleyn as lawful making any offspring legitimate heirs to the throne. Thomas More, loyal to his Roman Catholic heritage and beliefs resigned his chancellorship, and would have been content to live in obscurity, but Henry turned against his friend, refusing to let so public a figure defy his authority. More was imprisoned in the Tower for his refusal to agree to the Act of Succession and was executed for treason.

BORN: 7 February 1478, London, England.

DIED: 6 July 1535, London, England