Sir Thomas More was born in London. He was the second of 6 children.He .was educated at St. Anthony’s school - one of the best London schools.

From 1490 to 1492 he served John Morton, the Archbishop of Canterbury and Lord Chancellor of England as a household boy. He believed Thomas had great potential

In 1492 he began his studies at Oxford University and became fluent in both Latin and Greek. His father in 1494 insisted he began legal training in London at New Inn. In 1496 he became a student at Lincoln’s Inn. There he remained until 1502 when he was called to the bar.

Between 1502-3 he lived near a monastery. He thought of becoming a monk - he continued to wear a hair shirt next to his skin and occasionally engaged in self-flagellation for the rest of his life.

He stayed a layman and was elected in 1503 to be a member of Parliament. He later became and Speaker of the House.

When Henry Vlll, aged 18, came to throne in 1509 Thomas became one of his chief advisors.

In 1521 he was knighted and made under-treasurer of the Exchequer.
On Wolsey’s recommendation in 1523 he became Speaker in the House of Commons.
In 1525 he became Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.

He supported the Catholic church and saw the Protestant Reformation as heresy. He wrote several books against William Tyndale’s English version of the New ÌÇÐÄVlogtament.

In 1530 Henry Vlll sought to annual his marriage to Catherine of Aragon so he could marry Anne Boleyn Thomas refused to agree to this.

In 1531 Henry Vlll sought to become Supreme Head of the Church of England.
Thomas, as a Catholic, saw the Pope as head of the church.

In May 1532 he resigned as Chancellor.

In 1533 he expressed his happiness that Henry Vlll had found a wife in Anne Boleyn but he did not attend the coronation.

Thomas Cromwell accused him of various allegations.

On 13th April 1534 he refused to swear allegiance to the Act of Succession. That was the last straw and on 17th April he was taken to the Tower of London and charged with treason.

1st July, 1535 was his trial, he was found guilty. Sentenced to be hung, drawn and quartered.
6th July he was decapitated instead - Henry Vlll showed some leniency to a former friend.

While on the scaffold he declared he died for the faith of the Holy Catholic Churchthe king’s good servant, and God’s first

Thomas had stayed true to his beliefs and convictions to the end.

Feast Day 22nd June (formerly 9th July)
Sources
Wikipedia
The Encyclopedia of Saints by Howard Loxton
Oxford Dictionary of Saints by David Farmer