Gifford Pinchot
American forester and politician (1865-1946)
Walter Raleigh
English statesman, soldier and writer (1552-1618)
Sir Walter Raleigh was an influential English statesman, soldier, writer, and explorer during the Elizabethan era. He played a key role in the colonization of North America, suppressed rebellions in Ireland, and held important political positions under Queen Elizabeth I. Raleigh’s life was marked by both success and controversy, including a secret marriage and multiple imprisonments.
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Family Info
Siblings
Carew Raleigh
Spouses
Elizabeth Raleigh
Children
Walter Ralegh
Carew Raleigh
About the Walter Raleigh
Sir Walter Raleighwas an English statesman, soldier, writer and explorer. One of the most notable figures of the Elizabethan era, he played a leading part in English colonisation of North America, suppressed rebellion in Ireland, helped defend England against the Spanish Armada and held political positions under Elizabeth I.
Raleigh was born to a landed gentry family of Protestant faith in Devon, the son of Walter Raleigh and Catherine Champernowne. He was the younger half-brother of Sir Humphrey Gilbert and a cousin of Sir Richard Grenville. Little is known of his early life, though in his late teens he spent some time in France taking part in the religious civil wars. In his 20s he took part in the suppression of rebellion in the colonisation of Ireland; he also participated in the siege of Smerwick. Later, he became a landlord of property in Ireland and mayor of Youghal in east Munster, where his house still stands in Myrtle Grove. He rose rapidly in the favour of Queen Elizabeth I and was knighted in 1585. He was granted a royal patent to explore Virginia, paving the way for future English settlements. In 1591, he secretly married Elizabeth Throckmorton, one of the Queen’s ladies-in-waiting, without the Queen’s permission, for which he and his wife were sent to the Tower of London. After his release, they retired to his estate at Sherborne, Dorset.
In 1594, Raleigh heard of a “City of Gold” in South America and sailed to find it, publishing an exaggerated account of his experiences in a book that contributed to the legend of “El Dorado”. After Queen Elizabeth died in 1603, Raleigh was again imprisoned in the Tower, this time for being involved in the Main Plot against King James I, who was not favourably disposed towards him. In 1616, he was released to lead a second expedition in search of El Dorado. During the expedition, men led by his top commander ransacked a Spanish outpost, in violation of both the terms of his pardon and the 1604 peace treaty with Spain. Raleigh returned to England and, to appease the Spanish, he was arrested and executed in 1618.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sir Walter Raleigh was an English statesman, soldier, writer, and explorer who was one of the most notable figures of the Elizabethan era.
Raleigh played a leading part in the English colonization of North America and was granted a royal patent to explore Virginia, paving the way for future English settlements.
Raleigh also helped defend England against the Spanish Armada and held political positions under Queen Elizabeth I.
Raleigh faced controversies such as secretly marrying one of the Queen’s ladies-in-waiting without permission and being imprisoned in the Tower of London on multiple occasions.
In 1594, Raleigh heard of a ,City of Gold, in South America and sailed to find it, publishing an exaggerated account of his experiences that contributed to the legend of ,El Dorado,.
After being released from prison, Raleigh led a second expedition in search of El Dorado, but during the expedition, his men ransacked a Spanish outpost, leading to his arrest and execution in 1618.
Raleigh was born to a landed gentry family of Protestant faith in Devon, the son of Walter Raleigh and Catherine Champernowne, and was the younger half-brother of Sir Humphrey Gilbert and a cousin of Sir Richard Grenville.