Birth date: 
1503
Death date: 
1542
Birth town: 
Kent
Country: 
England

Thomas Wyatt was born at Allington Castle in Kent, and educated at St John's College, Cambridge. While travelling as a diplomat for Henry VIII he developed his interest in Continental poetry; he was the first English poet to use the Italian forms of the sonnet and terza rima, and the French rondeau. His translation of the Penitential Psalms is based on a version by the Italian poet Pietro Aretino.

In the course of his career Wyatt served his King Henry in a variety of offices, including those of Marshal of Calais, Sheriff of Kent and Ambassador to Spain, and he was also jailed several times. His first imprisonment, in 1534, was for brawling; two years later his relationship with the disgraced Anne Boleyn resulted in a short spell in the Tower of London. Thomas and Anne had been lovers before her marriage to Henry, and his sense of loss at their separation forms the subject of the famous sonnet 'Whoso List To Hunt'.

Wyatt was restored to favour and knighted in 1537, and spent the next two years on his embassy to the court of Charles V of Spain. In 1540 however, his trusted patron Thomas Cromwell was executed, leaving him without an ally at court. The following year Wyatt was accused of treason by his enemies and imprisoned in the Tower once more. He managed to secure his own release but died of a fever soon afterwards.

Poems by this Poet

Displaying 251 - 260 of 291
Poem Post date Rating Commentssort ascending
The Heart and Service 3 June 2013
0
No votes yet
0
Iopas's Song 5 September 2014
0
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0
Who hath herd of such cruelty before 19 May 2014
0
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0
V. Innocentia Veritas Viat Fides Circumdederunt Me Inimici Mei 19 May 2014
3.5
Average: 3.5 (4 votes)
0
The Knot which first my heart did strain 29 November 2013
0
No votes yet
0
Of purpose Love chose first for to be blind 29 November 2013
0
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0
To Sir Francis Brian - 5 September 2014
0
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0
For to love her for her looks lovely 19 May 2014
0
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Mistrustful minds be moved 29 November 2013
0
No votes yet
0
Honesty 29 November 2013
3
Average: 3 (1 vote)
0

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