Utopia

Canonized in 1935 as a Saint and martyr of the Catholic Church, St. Sir Thomas More felt conflicted throughout his life about his role in politics, religion, and scholarly society. These conflicts resulted in his hanging in 1535. A humanist Christian scholar, More translated Pico della Mirandola and was a friend of Desiderius Erasmus. He felt drawn away from this philosophical life by a desire and responsibility to participate in public life. He rose in political power until he held the highest non-royal office, but was executed when Henry VIII demanded he affirms his leadership of the Church of England and More refused.