St Thomas More, English Martyr

St. Thomas More (1478-1535) was an English lawyer, social philosopher, author, and statesman who served as Lord Chancellor of England under King Henry VIII. He was an influential figure of the English Renaissance and an important counselor to the king. However, he refused to acknowledge the king's break with the Catholic Church and his subsequent marriage to Anne Boleyn. For this, he was convicted of treason and executed. Thomas More is venerated as a martyr and was canonized by the Catholic Church in 1935. He is the patron saint of lawyers, statesmen, and political leaders.