Home › W › Wyatt (SIR THOMAS an English courtier)

Wyatt (SIR THOMAS an English courtier)

SIR THOMAS, an English courtier and poet; born in Allington Castle, Kent, England, in 1503; son of Sir Henry Wyatt, who stood high in favor with Henry VII., and later with his son. In 1515 he was entered at St.

John's College, Cambridge, where he took his degrees of Bachelor and Master of Arts. He was warmly received at court, for he was one of the most accomplished men of his day, of a noble presence and fine manners, dexterous and subtle in the management of affairs, yet of spotless honor and integrity. In 1536 he was knighted, and the next year he was made high sheriff of Kent. He contrived to retain the hazardous favor of the king, and was frequently employed by him in positions of trust, as in missions to Spain, to the imperial court. In 1541 he was rewarded with a grant of lands at Lambeth, and the year after he was named high steward of the king's manor at Maidstone. He had now very WYCLIF much withdrawn himself from public life, and lived for the most part retired at Allington. Among the other accomplishments of Wyatt was that of verse, which he seems to have begun to cultivate early, and continued through life to practice. During his life he had acquired considerable reputation as a poet; and in 1557 his poems, with those of Surrey, were published in "Tottel's Miscellany" (ed. by Arber, 1870). As marking a stage in the progress of early English literature they hold a permanent place.

He died in Sherborne, Oct. 11, 1542.