Men of Kent and Kentishmen/Nicholas Wotton
Nicholas Wotton,
THE FIRST DEAN OF CANTERBURY,
Belonged to an ancient and honorable Kentish family settled at Boughton Malherb, where he was born in 1496. He was the fourth son of Sir Robert Wotton of that place. He was educated at Oxford where he studied the civil and canon law. His skill commended him to Tunstall, Bishop of London, and procured him rapid promotion. In 1539 he was made Archdeacon of Gloucester, and in 1542 was constituted Dean of Canterbury by the King's charter of foundation. Two years later he obtained also the Deanery of York, together with a prebendal stall in that cathedral, and it is said that even the Sees of York and Canterbury were placed within his reach, but that he declined them. It was, however, as a statesman that he was most distinguished, being employed on frequent occasions as ambassador to foreign sovereigns. During Edward VI's reign he was for a short time Secretary of State, and Elizabeth made him a Privy Councillor. He died Jan. 26th, 1567, and was buried in Canterbury Cathedral, where there is an elaborate tomb to his memory, with an inscription descriptive of his history, virtues, and appearance.
[See Todd's "Deans of Canterbury," Lodge's "Illustrations of British History," and Walton's "Life of Wotton," etc.]