Thomas Cranmer

1489-1556. Humanist and scholar. Entered the service of Henry VIII and eventually became the English ambassador to the Holy Roman Emperor, Charles V. Helped the king with his "great matter", the annulment of his first marriage, and was appointed Archbishop of Canterbury after England's break with the Roman Catholic Church. He continued to serve in this function under Edward VI and compiled the first two editions of the Book of Common Prayer (1549, 1552). Under Mary I, Cranmer was charged with treason and executed.