Thomas Flamank was a lawyer from Cornwall who together with Michael An Gof led the Cornish Rebellion against taxes in 1497. The Cornish believed their distance from Scotland - on whom the war taxes were to be used against - were too far from them to concern them, and refused to pay. Having stirred up the people of St. Keverne, Cornwall, into open rebellion, he led an increasing number of discontented peasants to London to protest and, ultimately, force King Henry VII to cancel the taxation.

Reaching Blackheath outside London, Flamank and his fellow rebel leaders were forced into battle against the King's army in the Battle of Deptford Bridge, where they were soundly beaten. Flamank was captured on the battlefield, and was taken to the Tower of London. He was hung, drawn and quartered at Tyburn for his part in the rebellion, on June 24, along with An Gof.

A statue of Flamank and An Gof was laid in St. Keverne in 1997, celebrating the 500th anniversary of the rebellion.