born Dec. 21, 1505, London, Eng.
died July 30, 1550, London
English politician.
He followed his father, a herald, into royal service and became personal secretary to Thomas Cromwell (1533), whom he succeeded as a secretary of state to Henry VIII (1540). Wriothesley became one of Henry's leading councillors and was appointed lord chancellor of England (154447). After Henry's death, he was created earl of Southampton (1547) by the duke of Somerset , but he was deprived of the chancellorship. He supported Somerset's overthrow in 1549 but was excluded from the privy council in 1550.