born 0441; 1485, Thurcaston, Leicestershire, Eng.
died Oct. 16, 1555, Oxford
English Protestant martyr.
The son of a prosperous yeoman farmer, he was educated at the University of Cambridge, where he came into contact with the doctrines of Martin Luther and converted to Protestantism . He supported Henry VIII 's attempt to obtain a marriage annulment but was later excommunicated for refusing to accept the existence of purgatory or the need to venerate saints. He made a complete submission and briefly served as bishop of Worcester (153539). Again imprisoned on suspicion of heresy, he was freed with the accession of Edward VI , during whose brief reign he preached extensively. On Mary I 's accession and the subsequent reversion to Catholicism, he was arrested for treason and burned at the stake.