Henry Wotton

Sir Henry Wotton ( born March 30, 1568 Bocton Hall, † December 1639 ) was an English diplomat, poet and art connoisseur.

Life

Wotton studied at Oxford University, where he became friends with John Donne, and traveled 1589-94 Germany and Italy to learn about language and people of the two countries. In 1595 he supported Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex, but he resigned in 1600 from from his service, just before his planned revolt flew open. Wotton returned to Italy, where he was the Grand Duke Ferdinand I of Tuscany on a diplomatic mission to the Scottish King James VI. sent. As this was in 1603 when James I King of England, he appointed Wotton to British Ambassador in Venice ( 1604). Wotton remained twenty years there. Shortly before his return, he published " The Elements of Architecture" ( 1624), the first English treatise on architectural theory of the High Renaissance. Wotton was a friend of John Milton, John Hales and Isaac Walton. From his poems was "You meaner beauties of the night" famous for its elegance.

Quotes

" Legatus est vir bonus peregre missus ad mentiendum Reipublicae causa "

" An ambassador is an honest man sent abroad to lie for the good of his country. "