Sir Richard Fanshawe, an English poet and diplomatist, born at Ware Park, Hertfordshire, in June, 1G08, died in Madrid, June 16, 1666. He studied in Jesus college, Cambridge, and in the Inner Temple. He then went abroad to study manners and languages, and on his return home became secretary to the embassy at Madrid, where he remained till 1638. On the outbreak of the civil war he declared for the crown, and was made secretary to the prince of Wales. In 1648 he was appointed treasurer to the navy under Prince Rupert, and two years later he was made a baronet, and sent to Madrid to implore the assistance of Spain.

He was taken prisoner at the battle of Worcester, but being released passed several years in retirement, translating the Lusiad" of Ca-moens, and upon the death of Cromwell joined Charles II. at Breda. He was appointed master of requests and Latin secretary to the exiled monarch, and after the restoration was elected to parliament, and was sent upon diplomatic missions to Madrid and Lisbon, negotiating the marriage of Charles with the infanta Catharine of Portugal. Besides his version of theLusiad" (1655), he translated the Pastor fido of Guarini and the odes of Horace, and wrote a few short original poems. The "Original Letters and Negotiations of Sir Richard Fanshawe, the Earl of Sandwich, the Earl of Sunderland, and Sir William Godolphin" (8vo, London, 1724) is a valuable contribution to history. The:Memoirs of Lady Fanshawe,"' written by herself, with extracts from the correspondence of her husband, edited by Sir X. H. Nicolas, was published in London in 1830.