Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
More becomes Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.
Historical biography archive · Updated 2026-11-03
Thomas More Biography and Timeline — Page 3
Follow Thomas More through 147 dated historical records for England.
Thomas More, historical timeline
A chronological timeline drawn from matching World History Database records.
147Distinct records
3 of 4Page
1525–1534Years on this page
1525
High Steward of Cambridge University
More is appointed High Steward of the University of Cambridge.
1526
Royal Council Subcommittee
More is appointed to a small royal council committee dealing with important administrative business.
Arrest of John Tyndale
Sends agents abroad to try & arrest John Tyndale
1527
Mission to France with Wolsey
More accompanies Cardinal Wolsey on a diplomatic mission to France.
Consulted on Henry VIII Divorce
Henry VIII consults More on the legal and theological issues surrounding the proposed annulment of his marriage.
1528
Commission to Answer Religious Controversy
Bishop Cuthbert Tunstall asks More to write in English against religious teachings judged heretical by the English church authorities.
A Dialogue Concerning Heresies
Publication of "A Dialogue Concerning Heresies", an attack on Tyndale
A Dialogue
Publication of "A Dialogue Concerning Heresies", an attack on Tyndale
1529
Lord Chancellor
Appointed Lord Chancellor
Role range: 1529-1532
Reform of Government Offices
Replaces Thomas Wolsey as Lord Chancellor, 1st layman to hold this office
Role range: 1529-1532
Lord Chancellor
More becomes Lord Chancellor of England.
Role range: 1529-1532
Dialogue Concerning Heresies
More publishes A Dialogue Concerning Heresies.
Supplication of Souls
More publishes The Supplication of Souls in response to anticlerical polemic.
Dialogue Concerning Heresies
"Dialogue Concerning Heresies", critizes many of the reformers
1530
Constitution of England
More refuses to sign a letter by the leading English churchmen and aristocrats asking the Pope to annul Henrys marriage to Catherine
Reform of Church Governance
More refuses to sign a letter by the leading English churchmen and aristocrats asking the Pope to annul Henrys marriage to Catherine
1531
Divorce
Does not resign because More still believes that Catherine can win her case in Council
Role range: 1529-1532
Marriage
Given the task by Henry VIII to present the divorce in both House of Parliament
Role range: 1529-1532
Reform of Church-State Relations
Attempts to resign after being forced to take an oath declaring the king the Supreme Head of the English Church "as far as the law of Christ allows"
Supreme Head of Church of England
Attempts to resign after being forced to take an oath declaring the king the Supreme Head of the English Church "as far as the law of Christ allows"
1532
Resignation of Thomas More
Resigns the day after the convocation of the clergy seeking Royal consent for policies
Resignation as Lord Chancellor
More resigns the office of Lord Chancellor amid the developing royal supremacy crisis.
Reform of Church Governance
Resigns the day after the convocation of the clergy seeking Royal consent for policies
Resignation of Thomas More
Asks the King again to relieve him of his office, claiming that he was ill and suffering from sharp chest pains, this time Henry grants his request
Role range: 1529-1532
1533
Coronation
Refuses to attend the coronation of Anne Boleyn
Confutation of Tyndales Answer
"Confutation of Tyndales Answer", critical of John Tyndale
Coronation
More refuses to attend the coronation of Anne Boleyn as the Queen of England
1534
Legislation
Asks to appear before a commission and swear allegiance to the Act of Succession, More accepts Parliaments right to declare Anne the legitimate Queen of England, but refuses to take the oath because of an anti-papal preface to the Act
Interrogation at Lambeth Palace
More is questioned at Lambeth Palace over the oath connected with the Act of Succession.
Act of Succession
Asserts Parliaments authority to legislate in matters of religion by denying the authority of the Pope, which More would not accept. Asks to appear before a commission and swear allegiance to the Act of Succession, More accepts Parliaments right to declare Anne the legitimate Queen of England, but refuses to take the oath because of an anti-papal preface to the Act
Imprisonment in the Tower
More is committed to the Tower of London after refusing the required oath.
Act of Succession
Imprisoned in the Tower of London, where he writes his devotional Dialogue of Comfort against Tribulation
Arrest of Thomas More
Imprisoned in the Tower of London, where he writes his devotional Dialogue of Comfort against Tribulation
Imprisoned in the Tower of London, where he
Imprisoned in the Tower of London, where he writes his devotional Dialogue of Comfort against Tribulation
A Dialogue of Comfort Against Tribulation
Publication of "A Dialogue of Comfort Against Tribulation"
Arrest of Thomas More
Refuses to swear to Henry VIIIs oath of succession
Treason
Indicted under the Acts of Supremacy & Treason
Trial
Indicted under the Acts of Supremacy & Treason
Plot
Accused of conspiring with Elizabeth Barton, a nun who had prophesied against the King's divorce, but More is able to produce a letter in which he had instructed Barton not to interfere with state matters
Records, sources and methodology
These dates and descriptions come from the historical_events database. Exact duplicate records have been collapsed. Names are grouped by the country, Name 2 and Name 1 fields; records with missing Name 2 cannot be reliably assigned to an individual biography. Check the underlying sources before formal citation.