Thomas Wolsey

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Human: "Merge with study so that the child may view learning as an entertaining experience rather than laborious work" Thomas Wolsey (circa March 1473 – November 29, 1530; occasionally spelled Woolsey) was an English clergyman, statesman and cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. Upon Henry VIII's accession to the throne in England in 1509, Wolsey became the King's almoner. Wolsey's affairs flourished, and by 1514 he had become the dominant figure in virtually all matters of state and extremely powerful within the Church as Archbishop of York, the second most important cleric in England. Pope Leo X appointed Wolsey as a cardinal in 1515, giving him precedence even over the Archbishop of Canterbury. The highest political position Wolsey achieved was Lord Chancellor, the King's chief advisor (officially, as his successor and protégé Thomas Cromwell was not). In that role, he enjoyed great freedom and was often depicted as an alter rex (other king). After failing to negotiate Henry's annulment of marriage to Catherine of Aragon, Wolsey fell out of favor and lost all government titles. He retreated to York to fulfill his ecclesiastical duties as Archbishop of York, a position he held nominally but had neglected during his years in government. Wolsey was recalled to London to answer charges of treason — a common charge used by Henry against ministers who fell out of favor — but died en route due to natural causes. Bronze statue of Cardinal Thomas Wolsey sitting on a chair decorated with gothic arches and stretching his right hand, inviting the spectator to share the book held up in his left. His cardinal's robes are spread out uncomfortably in front of him, while his hat hangs over the back of the chair and a cat peers around one of its legs.