Giles Fletcher

Giles Fletcher, the Elder (c. 1548 – 1611) was an English poet and diplomat, and a member of the English Parliament.

He is best known for his sonnet Licia. He is the father of the poet Giles Fletcher, the Younger and the son of Richard Fletcher, vicar of Bishop's Stortford.

Biography

Fletcher was born in Watford, Hertfordshire. He spent his early life at Cranbrook in Kent before entering Eton College in about 1561. From there, Fletcher continued his education at King's College, Cambridge, where he was appointed a fellow in 1568 and gained his Bachelor of Arts in the academic year 1569–1570.

Studying Greek and poetry, Fletcher contributed to the translation of several of Demosthenes' orations. On 22 March 1572, Fletcher became a lecturer in King's and held this position until March the following year, until he became a lecturer in Greek, a position which he held until Michaelmas term 1579. Continually rising within the academia, Fletcher rose to dean of arts, the highest position he was to attain at Kings, in 1580–1581. However, this would not last long, for he decided to marry, forcing him to give up his fellowship. On 16 January, in his father's church, he married Joan Sheafe. Returning to Cambridge later, he received his Doctor of Civil Law degree. After attaining his law degree, the family settled back in Cranbrook, where once again the family was united. On 8 April 1582, Giles and Joan's first child, Phineas, was baptized. During the same year, Giles was made chancellor of the diocese of Sussex.