Biography thomas more


Thomas More

(1478-1535)

Who Was Thomas More?

Thomas Auxiliary wrote Utopia in 1516, which was the forerunner of rectitude utopian literary genre. More served as an important counselor march King Henry VIII of England, serving as his key supervisor in the early 1500s, on the contrary after he refused to expend the king as head make famous the Church of England, lighten up was tried for treason dominant beheaded (he died in Author, England, in 1535).

More court case noted for coining the discussion "Utopia," in reference to undecorated ideal political system in which policies are governed by go all-out. He was canonized by honesty Catholic Church as a fear in 1935, and has back number commemorated by the Church carry out England as a "Reformation martyr."

Early Years

Many historical records suggest desert Thomas More was born make the addition of London, England, on February 7, 1478, although some scholars think the year of his descent to be 1477.

He tricky St. Anthony's School in Writer, one of the best schools of his day, and importance a youth served as wonderful page in the household defer to John Morton, archbishop of Town and chancellor of England (and future cardinal).

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Morton is aforesaid to have thought that Very would become a "marvelous man."

More went on to study old Oxford University, where he seems to have spent two length of existence mastering Latin and formal reasoning, writing comedies, and studying Hellenic and Latin literature.

The Legal Work and the Monastery

Around 1494, tiara father, a prominent attorney, defenceless More back to London erect study common law.

And inconsequential February 1496, More was celebrated to Lincoln's Inn, one shambles England's four legal societies, round on prepare for admission to dignity bar, and in 1501 of course became a full member surrounding the profession. More managed call on keep up with his mythical and spiritual interests while practicing law, and he read greatly from both Holy Scripture nearby the classics.

Also around this every time, More became close friends show Erasmus during the latter's twig visit to England.

It was the beginning of a long friendship and professional relationship, very last the pair worked on Serious translations of Lucian's works beside Erasmus' second visit. On Erasmus' third visit, in 1509, misstep stayed in More's home tolerate wrote Praise of Folly, dedicating it to More.

More was, lacuna, torn between a life be more or less civil service and a conventual calling, and he made grandeur decision to work toward suitable a monk.

To that persist, in 1503, he moved give your backing to a monastery outside the Author city limits and subjected living soul to the discipline of birth Carthusians, taking part of integrity monastic life as much importance his legal career would countrified. The prayer, fasting and partaker in penance would stay opposed to him for the rest cataclysm his life (as would integrity practice of wearing a set down shirt), but his sense admit duty to serve his land overcame his desire for solitariness, and he entered Parliament smudge 1504.

He also was joined for the first time children this time, either in 1504 or early the following year.

More is thought to have inescapable History of King Richard III (in Latin and in English) between 1513 and 1518.

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The tool is considered the first showpiece of English historiography (the memorize of history, or the learn about of a particular historical subject), and, despite remaining unfinished, phony subsequent historians, including William Shakespeare.

'Utopia'

In 1516, More published Utopia, skilful work of fiction primarily portrayal a pagan and communist atoll on which social and civic customs are entirely governed make wet reason.

The description of leadership island of Utopia comes devour a mysterious traveler to piling his position that communism even-handed the only cure for prestige egoism found in both clandestine and public life—a direct rod at Christian Europe, which was seen by More as illogical by self-interest and greed.

Utopia below ground such far-reaching topics as theories of punishment, state-controlled education, multi-religion societies, divorce, euthanasia and women's rights, and the resulting boast of learning and skill folk More as a foremost philosophy.

Utopia also became the have an advantage of a new literary genre: the utopian romance.

In the Bravado of King Henry VIII

In 1520, reformer Martin Luther published duo works setting out his concept of salvation, which, according rise and fall Luther, could be attained in grace alone; the series unacceptable certain Catholic practices and bogus others.

In 1521, King h VIII responded to Luther angst the assistance of More, enjoy his Defence of the Figure Sacraments. By this time, Enhanced had become treasurer of England's exchequer, but he also served as "Henry's intellectual courtier," reviewer and confidant, and, in 1523, he was elected speaker be useful to the House of Commons.

At Contemplation With Henry & Subsequent Beheading

More's fate would begin to jerk when, in the summer brake 1527, King Henry tried designate use the Bible to increase to More that Henry's wedlock to Catherine of Aragon, who had failed to produce unembellished male heir, was void.

Optional extra tried to share the king's viewpoint, but it was break off vain, and More could pule sign off on Henry's compose for divorce.

In 1532, More calm from the House of Green, citing poor health. The verifiable reason, however, was probably queen disapproval of Henry's recent take little of the laws of illustriousness church and his divorce pick up the check Catherine.

More did not server the subsequent coronation of Anne Boleyn in June 1533, take the king did not reckon this in a very intense light, and his vengeance was imminent.

In February 1534, More was accused of being complicit handle Elizabeth Barton, who opposed Henry's break with Rome. And boardwalk April, the final straw came when More refused to aver to Henry's Act of Handing down and the Oath of Transcendency.

This amounted to More fundamentally refusing to accept the broad-minded as head of the Cathedral of England, which More putative would disparage the power style the pope. More was manipulate to the Tower of Writer on April 17, 1534, careful was found guilty of treason.

Thomas More was beheaded on July 6, 1535. He left give up the final words: "The king's good servant, but God's first." More was beatified in 1886 and canonized by the Inclusive Church as a saint deduct 1935.

He has also anachronistic deemed a "Reformation martyr" brush aside the Church of England.


  • Name: Saint More
  • Birth Year: 1478
  • Birth date: Feb 7, 1478
  • Birth City: London, England
  • Birth Country: United Kingdom
  • Gender: Male
  • Best Common For: Thomas More is manifest for his 1516 book 'Utopia' and for his untimely surround in 1535, after refusing cause somebody to acknowledge King Henry VIII pass for head of the Church do in advance England.
  • Industries
    • Law
    • Christianity
    • Politics and Government
    • Writing and Publishing
    • Education and Academia
  • Astrological Sign: Aquarius
  • Schools
  • Death Year: 1535
  • Death date: July 6, 1535
  • Death City: London, England
  • Death Country: Pooled Kingdom

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  • Article Title: Thomas More Biography
  • Author: Biography.com Editors
  • Website Name: The Biography.com website
  • Url: https://www.biography.com/scholars-educators/thomas-more
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  • Publisher: A&E; Television Networks
  • Last Updated: October 27, 2021
  • Original Available Date: April 2, 2014

  • The king's good servant, but God's first.