Utopia

About Thomas More

Thomas More (1478-1535) was an English lawyer judge philosopher statesman and humanist. Born in London he was the second of six children born to Sir John More and his wife Agnes. From 1490 to 1492 he served as household page for Archbishop of Canterbury John Morton who introduced him to Renaissance humanism and nominated him for a spot at the University of Oxford. After two years of learning Latin and Greek he left to study law and was called to the Bar in 1502. Two years later he was elected to Parliament launching his political career in earnest. In 1516 while serving as Privy Counsellor More published Utopia a work of political philosophy and social satire that describes the customs of a fictional island nation. After a series of prominent posts in the court of King Henry VIII More succeeded Thomas Wolsey as Lord Chancellor in 1529 making him one of the most powerful men in England. His three-year reign was mired in controversy as he worked to impede the influence of the Protestant Reformation through the persecution of heretics and the suppression of Lutheran books especially the Tyndale Bible. In 1530 he refused to sign a letter to Pope Clement VII that sought to annul Henrys marriage to Catherine of Aragon damaging his relationship with the King and distancing himself from clergymen loyal to the crown. After resigning in 1532 he further enraged the King by refusing to attend the coronation of Anne Boleyn leading to a series of charges orchestrated by Thomas Cromwell. His refusal to take the Oath of Supremacy which recognized the King as the figurehead of a new Church of England would culminate in his being found guilty of high treason in 1535. Five days after his trial by jury More was beheaded at Tower Hill. Recognized as a martyr by the Catholic Church he was canonized as a saint in 1935 by Pope Pius XI.