The Tudor Society

7 February – The birth of Sir Thomas More, a joust, unrequited love and a nasty accident

On this day in history, 7th February 1477 or 1478, Sir Thomas More, Henry VIII's Lord Chancellor, was born in London.

More had once wanted to be a monk but ended up being one of the most well-known statesmen of the Tudor period. Unfortunately, Sir Thomas More came to a sticky end after refusing to sign the oath recognising Henry VIII as the supreme head of the church in England, and was executed in 1535 as a traitor.

Find out all about More's rise to power, how he fell, and what he told his son-in-law about the king, in this talk...

Also on this day in Tudor history, 7th February 1526, Henry VIII took part in the traditional Shrovetide joust at Greenwich.

I tell you all about it, and also about a nasty accident that one courtier suffered at it, in this video...

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7 February – The birth of Sir Thomas More, a joust, unrequited love and a nasty accident