Thomas More Born: Utopia's Author and Martyr of Conscience
Thomas More spent his entire legal career building a reputation as the most honest man in England — and then was beheaded for it. Henry VIII appointed him Lord Chancellor because More would give him his honest opinion. More gave it: he couldn't in good conscience declare Henry head of the Church or recognize his marriage to Anne Boleyn as legal. He said nothing publicly. Henry had him executed for silence, which technically wasn't treason. The law was adjusted.
February 7, 1478
548 years ago
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