Thomas Carew's precise date of birth is unknown - he was probably born in the year between June 1594 and June 1595. It is also difficult to identify his place of birth with absolute certainty, although it was most probably at the family home in West Wickham, Kent. His father, Matthew Carew came of Cornish gentry, and was a master in Chancery. He was over sixty years old at the time of Thomas's birth. The poet's mother, Alice Ryvers Carew was the offspring of a family of some importance in the City of London - both her father and her grandfather had held the post of Lord Mayor.

Carew is recorded as matriculating at the University of Oxford in an entry dated 10th June 1608, where he is described as “militis fil.” (his father appears to have been knighted in 1603) and his age is given as

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Citation: Pursglove, Glyn. "Thomas Carew". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 28 October 2000 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=735, accessed 22 November 2024.]