Overbury

Overbury, Sir Thomas (1581-1613), was born in Warwickshire and educated at Queen's College, Oxford. After going to the Temple for a time he went to Court, and was patronised by Robert Carr, who caused him to be knighted in 1608. When Carr (then Rochester) wished to marry the Countess of Essex, Overbury opposed the idea, and so incurred the enmity of Rochester and the Countess, who first tried to compass his death and then to get rid of him by appointing him to a foreign mission. Overbury declined this, and was committed to the Tower on a charge of disobedience to the king's wishes, and here he was poisoned at the instigation of Rochester and his wife. Both were condemned to death, but, though their instruments suffered death, the chief culprits were pardoned by James. Overbury was not without reputation as a writer.