Thomas à Becket, Dictionary of National Biography Entry

What it is

This is the entry on Thomas à Becket in the Dictionary of National Biography, a major reference work published in London between 1885 and 1900 in 63 volumes. It gives a detailed account of his birth in Cheapside, London, his family background, his education at Merton Priory and in Paris, and his early career.

Why it matters

This is a much fuller and more scholarly account than a short encyclopedia entry, drawing on earlier chronicles such as those of Garnier and other contemporary writings. It shows how later historians pieced together Becket's life from medieval sources, including disagreements over details like his exact birth year.

Look closer

• Why does the entry mention different possible birth years for Becket?
• What sources does the writer cite, and what does this tell you about how historians build a biography?
• How does this entry's detail compare to the shorter encyclopedia entries on Becket?