How did the death of Thomas Cranmer’s first wife affect his career?

The death of Thomas Cranmer’s first wife was a pivotal event that allowed him to pursue a career in the church. Early in his life, Cranmer was elected to a fellowship at Jesus College, Cambridge, but he was compelled to vacate this position because he married a relative of a local landlady. Following his wife's death in childbirth shortly after their marriage, Jesus College restored his fellowship. This restoration enabled him to enter the church and dedicate himself to the theological studies that eventually led to his role in the English Reformation and his appointment as archbishop of Canterbury.1