More, Sir Thomas. Statesman and writer. Born in 1478, son of Sir J. More, a judge. Was educated in the household of Archbishop Morton, who sent him to Oxford, where he made the acquaintance of Erasmus. He entered parliament in 1504, where he took an independent course, refusing a pension from the king, whose favor, however, and that of Wolsey, he enjoyed. Was knighted in 1521, became speaker in 1523 and, on the fall of Wolsey, chancellor, but resigned in 1532, and was committed to the Tower two years later for refusing to take the oath of supremacy. He was then condemned by attainder, and executed on a charge of treason in 1535. He wrote "Utopia" and several other works.

---