Sir Thomas More (February 7, 1478 – July 6, 1535) was an English lawyer, statesman, author and philosopher best remembered for his opposition to the Protestant Reformation as well as his portrait of an ideal nation portrayed in Utopia. He was the son of a successful London lawyer and judge and served John Morton, the Archbishop of Canterbury, as a household page during his youth, which led to studies at Oxford before returning to London to study law. His political influence grew steadily with his career progress through election to Parliament and subsequent appointments as undersheriff of London, Privy Councilor, undertreasurer of the Exchequer, Speaker of the House of Commons, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, and Lord High Chancellor of England.  Most importantly, he was secretary and advisor to King Henry VIII, but broke with him over separation of the Church of England from the Catholic Church. He was convicted of treason and beheaded when he refused sign the King’s Oath of Supremacy. He was canonized as a martyr in 1935 by the Catholic Church for his steadfast faith and was name the heavenly Patron of Statesmen and Politicians” by Pope John Paul II.  He is recognized as a Reformation martyr by the Church of England and was honored by the Soviet Union for communistic notions of property rights advanced in Utopia.