Richard Hakluyt

Richard Hakluyt was an English writer and priest who lived from 1553 to 1616. He is best known for encouraging the English people to explore and settle in North America through his books. Two of his most famous works are Divers Voyages Touching the Discoverie of America from 1582 and The Principal Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques and Discoveries of the English Nation from 1589 to 1600.

Hakluyt studied at Westminster School and Christ Church, Oxford. He served as a chaplain and secretary to Sir Edward Stafford, the English ambassador in France. As an ordained priest, he held important roles at Bristol Cathedral and Westminster Abbey. He was also the personal chaplain to Robert Cecil, a top advisor to Queen Elizabeth I and later King James I.

Hakluyt played a big role in helping to start English colonies in America. He helped write a request to King James I for permission to settle in Virginia. In 1606, this request was granted to two groups, the London Company and the Plymouth Company, which together became known as the Virginia Company. Many years later, in 1846, a group called the Hakluyt Society was formed and named in his honor. This society works to publish important historical records about voyages and travels.

Biography

Richard Hakluyt was an English writer and priest who lived from 1553 to 1616. He is best known for encouraging English exploration and settlement in North America through his books. Two of his most famous works are Divers Voyages Touching the Discoverie of America from 1582 and The Principal Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques and Discoveries of the English Nation from 1589 to 1600.

Hakluyt studied at Westminster School and later at Christ Church, Oxford. He became a priest in 1578 and began giving lectures on geography. He traveled to Paris as a chaplain and secretary for an English ambassador, where he collected information about explorations. After returning to England, he published more books about voyages and discoveries, helping to inspire English efforts to settle in places like Virginia. His writings were very important in supporting England's attempts to build colonies in North America.

Legacy

The Hakluyt Society started in 1846 to share rare stories about voyages and travels, and it still publishes books each year.

As of 2018, a big set of books about Hakluyt's work was being made by the Hakluyt Edition Project for Oxford University Press. Westminster School named one of its houses after him to honor his success. In Svalbard (Spitsbergen), there are places named after him, like the Hakluythovden headland and Hakluytodden landspit on Amsterdam Island.

Works

Richard Hakluyt wrote and edited many important books about voyages and discoveries. His most famous works include Divers Voyages Touching the Discoverie of America from 1582 and The Principal Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques and Discoveries of the English Nation from 1589 to 1600. These books shared stories of travel and exploration by English people.

Hakluyt also edited and translated works by other writers, helping to share their stories with more people. He worked with writers from different places to bring their adventures to English readers.