Died England, United Kingdom | ||
 | ||
Born 1474 England Spouse(s) John Middleton
Thomas More | ||
Alice, Lady More (née Harpur; 1474–1546 or 1551) was the second wife of Sir Thomas More, who served as Lord Chancellor of England. She is a prominent figure in Tudor history and literature.
She was the daughter of Elizabeth (née Adern) and Sir Richard Harpur. Elizabeth was the daughter of Sir Peter Adern and his wife Catherine.
Her first husband was John Middleton, a merchant, with whom she had a son and two daughters, one of whom, her daughter also named Alice (1501-1563), survived infancy. John Middleton died in 1509, leaving her a young widow. After her marriage to Thomas More in 1511, he raised her daughter Alice as his own. They did not have children together.
Historians have concluded that Sir Thomas More married Alice so he could have a step-mother for his four children after his first wife, Jane, died in 1511. One of her step-daughters was Margaret More. Alice was also considered wealthy, as her first husband left her all of his estate, and her family owned property. Historians also believe that Thomas More had known Alice and her family long before they were married, which is why the couple married without hesitation within weeks of Jane's death. Alice was seven years older than Sir Thomas. The family lived in London and later at the estate built in Chelsea.She was known for her love of animals, especially her dogs, and her pet monkey.
She was married to Sir Thomas from 1511 until he was executed in 1535 after he was convicted of treason for refusing to take the Oath of Supremacy. Before his execution, while he was locked in the Tower of London, she was in charge of taking care of his affairs. The last years of her life were poor, due to the family's property being confiscated. The crown voided the trust her husband had belatedly established for her, Henry VIII of England instead allowed her a smaller annuity of £20 in 1537, to live on after his death. Her death date is most often referred to as April 1551, but some sources state 1546. Her daughter Alice bore several children, giving her many blood descendants.
Researchers have found that her family lineage makes her an ancestor of Elizabeth, The Queen Mother.
Her husband was canonized by Pope Pius XI in 1935 as a martyr of the schism that separated the Church of England from Rome.
In popular culture
Alice is a major role in the stage play A Man for All Seasons by Robert Bolt. The play has been performed on Broadway on two occasions. She was first played by Carol Goodner and then by Maryann Plunkett.
The play was filmed once for television in 1988 starring Vanessa Redgrave as Alice. Redgrave was nominated for a Golden Globe award for her performance. A Man for All Seasons (1988 film)
The play was also turned into a film in 1966, in which Alice was portrayed by Dame Wendy Hiller. Hiller was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance. The film also won the Academy Award for Best Picture of the Year. A Man for All Seasons (1966 film)
In the Showtime series The Tudors, Catherine Byrne portrayed Alice More (Harpur) from 2007-2008.