How Old Was Thomas More When He Died

So, there I was, wandering through the historic streets of London, when I stumbled upon a plaque that read: "Here lived Sir Thomas More, Lord Chancellor of England, beheaded 1535." I mean, talk about a buzzkill on a sunny afternoon. But it got me thinking, how old was this poor guy when he kicked the bucket?

Now, I know what you're thinking, "Why does this even matter?" Well, bear with me, history nerds. It's not every day you find out about a guy who stood up to a king, lost his head over it, and then became a saint. I mean, talk about a tough day at the office, right?

Born in the 1400s, died in the 1500s

Alright, so let's rewind a bit. Thomas More was born in London in 1478. That's right, folks, he was born in the late 1400s. Can you even imagine? I struggle with my smartphone's calendar sometimes, and this guy was born before the 1500s. Mind. Blown.

Now, fast forward to 1535. Henry VIII, that's the king I was telling you about earlier, had a little disagreement with the Pope. Long story short, Henry wanted a divorce, the Pope said no, and Henry decided to start his own church. More, being a devout Catholic, wasn't having any of it. He refused to acknowledge Henry as the head of the Church of England and, well, that didn't go down too well.

July 6, 1535: The Day Thomas More Lost His Head

So, on July 6, 1535, Thomas More was beheaded on Tower Hill. He was 57 years old. Can you believe it? I mean, that's practically ancient in our times. But back then, that was considered quite a ripe old age. I mean, the average life expectancy was around 35, so More was basically a senior citizen by medieval standards.

Saint Thomas More

But here's the kicker, folks. Even with all that went down, More was canonized as a saint by the Catholic Church in 1935. That's right, they made him a saint over 400 years after he died. Talk about a delayed reaction, huh?

So, Why Does It Matter?

Alright, so maybe you're still wondering why any of this matters. Well, aside from the fact that it's just plain interesting, More's story is a great reminder of the power of standing up for what you believe in. Even when it's hard. Even when it's dangerous. Even when it might cost you your life.

Sir Thomas More - Historic UK

And hey, next time you're having a bad day at work, just remember poor old Thomas More. At least you've still got your head, right? (Too soon? Too dark? Sorry, I'll see myself out.)

Anyway, folks, that's the story of Thomas More and his not-so-happy ending. If you ever find yourself in London, go check out that plaque. It's a pretty sobering reminder of what can happen when you stand up to power. And who knows, maybe you'll learn a thing or two about history while you're at it.