John Suckling

Sir John Suckling (1609–1642) was an English poet, dramatist, and courtier, often linked with the Cavalier poets. Born into a wealthy Norfolk family, he inherited an estate and entered royal circles under Charles I. He served as a soldier and was known for his wit, gambling, and lavish display. Suckling wrote polished, urbane lyrics and songs, including “Why so pale and wan, fond lover?” and “Song” (“Out upon it, I have loved”). He also composed plays such as *Aglaura* and *The Goblins*. Implicated in a royalist plot in 1641, he fled abroad and died in 1642.