The future Sir John Suckling was born at his father's home, Goodfathers at Whitton near Twickenham in Middlesex, and baptised on February 10th, 1609. The family had lived in Norfolk and Suffolk for several centuries and the poet's great grandfather, Richard Suckling, had been Sheriff of Norwich. His son Robert also held the post of sheriff, and was later Mayor of Norwich in 1572. The poet's father Sir John Suckling, was born in 1569, a member of parliament from 1601, secretary to Lord Buckhurst, Lord Treasurer, in 1602, and in 1604 married Martha Cranfield, sister of Lionel Cranfield, later to be first Earl of Middlesex and Lord Treasurer (and later still, in 1624, to be impeached). The poet was the elder son of this marriage. Sir John Suckling the elder held a variety of well-paid…
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Citation: Pursglove, Glyn. "Sir John Suckling". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 28 October 2000 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=4278, accessed 16 April 2024.]
