Sir Thomas, a learned Englishman, was born in 1581; and studied at Queen's college, Oxford, after which he removed to the Middle-Temple, London. He afterwards travelled for some time, and returned a most accomplished person; when he contracted an intimate acquaintance with Sir Robert Carr, knight of the Bath, who being soon after taken into his majesty's favour, had Mr Overbury knighted at Greenwich. Sir Thomas perceiving the familiarity which subsisted between his patron Carr, now made Viscount Rochester, and the lady Frances, the wife of Robert earl of Essex, was so much displeased at it, that he endeavoured to dissuade him from keeping her company, and from proceeding in the base design he had formed of having her first divorced from her husband, and then marrying her. The viscount, resenting this honest advice, told what he had said to the lady, who was as remarkable for her wickedness as for her beauty; on which they immediately resolved on his destruction. About this time, the king wanting to send an ambassador abroad, the viscount recommended Sir Thomas Overbury. His majesty approving the choice, the viscount imparted the king's intentions to Sir Thomas; but, under a treacherous show of friendship, dissuaded him from accepting of that employment, as it might hinder him from a better way of advancement; promising that he would prevent his majesty from being displeased at his refusal. The viscount then went to the king, and artfully incensing his majesty against Sir Thomas for refusing to obey his commands, that gentleman was committed to the Tower for his contempt, on the 21st of April 1613, where he continued till he was dispatched by poison on the 15th of September following, and his body was interred in the Tower-chapel the same day. About two years after, the whole contrivance of his death was discovered. On this several persons were condemned and executed; but though Carr, earl of Somerset, and the lady Frances his countess, were condemned to death for contriving the murder, and hiring the persons who were concerned in it, the king only banished them from court, and afterwards pardoned them. Sir Thomas Overbury wrote several poems, &c. and an account of his travels.

His character is represented by a historian of those times; who, after relating the occasion and circumstances of his death, proceeds in the following terms: "In this manner fell Sir Thomas Overbury, worthy of a longer life and a better fate; and, if I may compare private men with princes, like Germanicus Caesar, both by poison procured by the malice of a woman, both about the 33d year of their age, and both celebrated for their skill and judgment in poetry, their learning, and their wisdom. Overbury was a gentleman of an ancient family, but had some blemishes charged upon his character, either through a too great ambition, or the insolence of a haughty temper.—After the return from his travels, the viscount Rochester embraced him with so entire a friendship, that exercising by his majesty's special favour the office of secretary provisionally, he not only communicated to Sir Thomas the secrets, but many times gave him the packets and letters unopened, before they had been perused by the king himself: which as it prevailed too much upon his early years, so as to make him, in the opinion of some, thought high and ambitious; yet he was far from violating his trust and confidence, that he remains now one example among others who have suffered in their persons or their fortunes for a freedom of advice, which none but sincere friends will give, and which many are such ill friends to themselves as not to receive."