Thomas Carew

Thomas Carew was born around 1594/95, West Wickham, Kent. He is known as the first of the Cavalier song writers. He was educated at Oxford University and practiced law at the Middle Temple, of the London Inns of Court.

Carew served as secretary at embassies in Venice, The Hague, and Paris. In 1630 he received a court appointment where he was considered witty and clever. His friends included the playwright Ben Jonson and the metaphysical poet John Donne.
Carew’s only masque, Coelum Britannicum, was performed in 1634.

Carew wrote mainly seduction poems which were circulated at court, as were most off the words of the metaphysical poets. They are marked by their wit and easy flow of language and imagery. His lyrics are among the most complex and thoughtful of any produced by the Cavalier poets. He was a meticulous craftsman, taking time to perfect what he wanted to say. He greatly admired the work of John Donne, and his elegy on Donne was greatly admired.

He translated a number of the Psalms and is said to have died regretting his life of womanising. His poems were published a few weeks after his death in 1639/40.