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 11 - 20 of 291
Poem Post date Ratingsort ascending Comments
Fortune doth frown 29 November 2013
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Divers doth use, as I have heard and kno 5 September 2014
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Resignation 19 May 2014
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‘Resound my voice, ye woods’ 19 May 2014
3.166665
Average: 3.2 (6 votes)
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If ever man might him avaunt 29 November 2013
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Nature that gave the bee so feat a grace 5 September 2014
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With Serving Still 31 July 2013
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What thing is that that I both have and lack 19 May 2014
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In wilful riches I have found poverty 29 November 2013
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Complaining, alas, without redress 19 May 2014
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