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 51 - 60 of 291
Poem Post date Rating Commentssort ascending
Longer to muse 19 May 2014
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To make an end of all this strife 29 November 2013
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And Wilt Thou Leave me Thus? 3 June 2013
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There was never file half so well filed 5 September 2014
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Though this the port and I thy servant true 19 May 2014
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Blame Not My Lute 29 November 2013
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Unstable Dream 3 June 2013
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Thy promise was to love me best 5 September 2014
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Such is the course that nature's kind hath wrought 19 May 2014
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Pain of all pain, the most grievous pain 29 November 2013
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