Saint Thomas Becket

Thomas Becket, also known as Saint Thomas of Canterbury and Thomas of London (21 December 1119 or 1120 – 29 December 1170), was an English cleric and statesman who served as Lord Chancellor from 1155 to 1162, and then as Archbishop of Canterbury from 1162 until his death in 1170. Born into a Norman family in London, Becket received his early education at Merton Priory in Surrey before studying in London and Paris. He worked under Theobald of Bec, Archbishop of Canterbury, where he quickly rose to prominence. In 1154, King Henry II appointed him Lord Chancellor, but their relationship deteriorated as Becket's commitment to the Church grew stronger. After Theobald’s death, Henry named Becket Archbishop of Canterbury in 1162. A significant conflict emerged between Becket and Henry over ecclesiastical rights. In 1170, four knights loyal to the king murdered Becket at Canterbury Cathedral, leading to his veneration as a saint and martyr by the Catholic Church and Anglican Communion.