Thomas Carew was a poet raised in the church tradition in London during the late 16th century. After his father's illness, he spent some time in Italy where he worked as an ambassador. Some scandals occurred during this season which prevented him from finding another job upon his return to England, but he had found a taste for the court lifestyle. He began a supposed affair with the queen of Charles I and became deeply entrenched in the king's court.
Around this time Carew met John Donne. Donne was a cleric in the Church of England and one of the king's favored poets. He headed the movement of metaphysical poetry. His influence upon Carew was immediate and significant. Although he taught many poet himself, Carew was never one of his formal students. Instead the two men would exchange ideas through friendly discourse, benefitting from a common background in church education.
Upon Donne's death in 1631, Carew published his poem "An Elegy upon the Death of the Dean of Paul's, Dr. John Donne" in memoriam. Donne was memorialized richly in St. Paul's Cathedral, his statue being one of the few to survive the Great Fire of London three decades later. He was a bit of celebrity, so Carew's ode to the man was not only fitting but expected considering his role in the king's court.
