Sir henry wotton poems

He was born into a well-to-do family that included other diplomats and landed gentry and received a good education, first at Winchester College and then Oxford University, from which he graduated in at the age of twenty.

To sir henry wotton

Traveling from Italy to Geneva, Wotton returned to English shores in and was admitted to the bar to study law. He immediately entered into service with the Second Earl of Essex, his job being to provide intelligence for a number of European regions including Italy and Poland. During the period, when Essex was suddenly brought down in , Wotton was prudent enough to make sure he was abroad at the time and safe from any form of persecution.

When James gained the English crown, Wotton received a knighthood for his service and returned to Venice to represent the king there.

Sir henry wotton the character of a happy life

A large part of the next 20 years were spent in Venice on diplomatic service where he became friends with the historian and scientist Paolo Sarpi. After Venice, Wotton did not work in a diplomatic capacity for a while perhaps because he was out of favor with the king. He did, however, become a Member of Parliament in and spent a short while at the Hague before being returned to his post in Venice.

Wotton returned to England in and became provost for the Eton College, though he had some financial problems and spent a period in jail. His later life was one of comfort and he often spent time fishing with his friend Izaak Walton on the Thames at a spot that became known as Black Potts. Wotton contributed fifteen poems to the Reliquiae Wottonianae including The Character of a Happy Life , a poem about the life of a virtuous individual who does not serve the interests of others.

He also wrote two works in his own right including the Elements of Architecture. Wotton finally died in at the age of Jump to Poems Bio. Privacy Contact Us.