THROCKMORTON (or THROGMORTON), SIR NICH OLAS (1515-1571), English diplomatist and politician, was the son of Sir George Throckmorton of Congleton in Warwick shire, and uncle of the conspirator Francis Throckmorton. (See above.) Brought up in the household of Catherine Parr, the last wife of Henry VIII., he was favourable to the reformers in re ligion. He sat in parliament from 1545 to 1567. During the reign of Edward VI. he was in high favour with the regents. In 1547 he was present at the battle of Pinkie during the invasion of Scotland. When on the death of Edward VI. an attempt was made to place Lady Jane Grey on the throne, he contrived to appear as the friend of both parties, and secured the favour of Queen Mary Tudor. He was, however, suspected of complicity in Wyat's rebellion in 1554, was brought to trial but was acquitted.
Throckmorton was, however, detained in the Tower till the fol lowing year. But he made his peace with Queen Mary. After the accession of Elizabeth he rose rapidly into favour. He became chamberlain of the exchequer, and from May 1559 to April he was ambassador in France. During this period, in which he was associated with Sir Thomas Smith, Throckmorton became ac quainted with Mary Queen of Scots. He conducted the negotia tions which accompanied her return to Scotland, and though he supported the reformers on political grounds, he became her per sonal friend. On returning to England he was sent as ambassador
to Scotland in May 1565, to prevent Queen Mary's marriage with Darnley, which however he was unable to do. After the murder of Darnley he was again sent to Scotland in June 1567 with the still more hopeless task of persuading the Scottish barons who had just imprisoned the queen to restore her to her authority.
Throckmorton's known friendship for Queen Mary and his constant support of her claim to be recognized as Elizabeth's successor, made him an unwelcome representative of England in that crisis. In Edinburgh Throckmorton could effect little, but he exerted himself to secure the personal safety of the queen. He offended his mistress by showing his instructions to the Scottish barons, and was recalled in August. In 1569 he fell under sus picion during the duke of Norfolk's conspiracy in favour of Mary, and was imprisoned for a time at Windsor, but was not further proceeded against. He died on Feb. 12, 1571. Sir Nicholas married Anne Carew, and his daughter Elizabeth became the wife of Sir Walter Raleigh.