Common questions about Thomas More

Short answers, pulled from the story.

When was Thomas More born and where did he grow up?

Thomas More was born on the 7th of February 1478 in the City of London. He grew up in an environment that included Milk Street where his father lived, though no contemporary record confirms the exact birth spot.

What was Thomas More's family life like and how many children did he have?

Thomas More had four children with his first wife Joanna Colt: Margaret, Elizabeth, Cecily, and John. He later married Alice Middleton in 1511 and raised her daughter from a previous marriage as his own.

When did Thomas More become Lord Chancellor and what were his political achievements?

Thomas More became Lord Chancellor in 1529 after succeeding Cardinal Wolsey. He introduced the Statute of Sewers in 1532 and dispatched cases with unprecedented rapidity while holding executive and judicial responsibilities over much of northern England.

Why did Thomas More refuse to sign the Oath of Supremacy in 1534?

Thomas More refused to sign the 1534 Oath of Succession because it repudiated the authority of the Pope and acknowledged the King as Supreme Head of the Church. He maintained his support for the supremacy of the Pope as Successor of Peter over that of the King of England.

How did Thomas More die and when was he executed?

Thomas More was executed by decapitation on the 6th of July 1535 at Tower Hill. He was originally sentenced to be hanged, drawn, and quartered, but the King commuted the punishment to execution by decapitation.

When was Thomas More canonized and what relics survive today?

Pope Pius XI canonized Thomas More on the 19th of May 1935 along with John Fisher. His hair shirt is preserved at Buckfast Abbey, and his head is believed to rest in the Roper Vault of St Dunstan's Church, Canterbury.