Walter Raleigh

Sir Walter Raleigh was an English statesman, soldier, writer, and explorer who lived during the late 1500s and early 1600s. He was one of the most famous people of the Elizabethan era, a time when Queen Elizabeth I ruled England. Raleigh helped defend his country against the Spanish Armada, a huge fleet of ships from Spain that tried to attack England. He also played an important role in trying to set up English colonies in North America.

Raleigh came from a family of landowners in Devon and had many adventures during his life. He fought in wars in France and helped control rebellions in Ireland. In the 1580s, Queen Elizabeth rewarded him for his service by giving him permission to explore a place called Virginia, which later became part of the United States. He even wrote books about his adventures.

One of Raleigh’s biggest adventures was when he heard stories about a “City of Gold” called El Dorado in South America. He sailed there to find it but didn’t succeed. Later in life, he got into trouble for being part of a secret plan against the new king, James I, and was sent to prison. Even after being released, he continued to search for El Dorado. Sadly, during one of these trips, his men attacked a Spanish settlement, which broke the peace treaty between England and Spain. As a result, Raleigh was arrested again and executed in 1618.

Early life

Sir Walter Raleigh was likely born on 22 January 1552, though some think it may have been 1554. He grew up in a house in East Devon, in England. He was the youngest son of Walter Raleigh and Katherine Champernowne.

Raleigh's family was strongly Protestant, which caused trouble when Queen Mary I, who was Catholic, ruled. His father once had to hide to avoid being punished. Raleigh went to school in France and later studied at Oxford, though he didn’t finish his degree. He also traveled with his half-brother, trying to find a sea route to the north, but they didn’t succeed.

Ireland

See also: Plantations of Ireland

From 1579 to late 1580, Raleigh helped calm troubles in Ireland. He was there when a group of Spanish and Italian soldiers gave up, and he led the group that dealt with them. In 1584, Queen Elizabeth I planned to divide land among people she trusted to help manage new settlements.

In 1585, Raleigh was given a large piece of land in a place called Munster Plantation, which included the town of Youghal and a village named Lismore near the Blackwater River. Raleigh became the mayor of Youghal for a year in 1588 or 1589, but someone else did the work for him while he stayed in London.

Raleigh invited some people who had tried to start a settlement called Roanoke to live in Ireland. He is often remembered for bringing potatoes to England and Ireland, though some think they came through trade with Spain. Later, Raleigh sold his Irish lands to another man named Richard Boyle, who became successful under kings James I and Charles I.

New World

On 25 March 1584, Queen Elizabeth gave Sir Walter Raleigh permission to explore and settle new lands far away that were not ruled by Christian countries. He had seven years to start a settlement, or he would lose the right. Raleigh wanted to find riches and use the new land as a base to challenge Spanish ships.

In April 1584, two ships led by Philip Amadas and Arthur Barlowe sailed to North America to see what could be found there. They brought back two local people, Manteo and Wanchese, and named the area "Virginia" after Queen Elizabeth. In 1585, Raleigh sent a group led by Sir Richard Grenville to build a fort on Roanoke Island. However, they ran out of food and left in 1586.

Raleigh tried again in 1587, sending a group that included families to Roanoke Island, led by John White. White returned to England for more supplies but faced delays. When he finally returned three years later, the settlers were gone. The only clue was the word "CROATOAN" carved into a tree, suggesting they might have moved to Croatoan Island. Raleigh never visited North America himself but led searches for gold in South America, though these did not bring the riches he hoped for. This settlement became known as the "Lost Colony."

1580s

In 1580, Raleigh went to Ireland to help stop a rebellion. When he came back to England in 1581, he became very popular with Queen Elizabeth I because he worked hard to support the Protestant Church in Ireland. In 1585, Raleigh was knighted and given important jobs, including taking care of tin mines and representing the area in government meetings.

Raleigh also got permission to start settlements in America. He asked a shipbuilder to create a ship called Ark Raleigh. Later, Queen Elizabeth bought the ship and renamed it Ark Royal.

In 1588, Raleigh helped protect England when a big group of ships from Spain, called the Spanish Armada, came near Devon. The Ark Royal, the ship Raleigh had built, was an important part of England’s defense.

1590–1594

Sir Walter Raleigh was given many rewards by the Queen in 1592, including Durham House in the Strand and the estate of Sherborne, Dorset. He became Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard, but he did not receive any major government roles.

In 1591, Raleigh secretly married Elizabeth "Bess" Throckmorton, one of the Queen's ladies-in-waiting. She was pregnant at the time and later had a son, who sadly passed away. When the marriage was discovered, both Raleigh and Bess were asked to leave the court. Raleigh was allowed to leave prison later to help manage an expedition. This expedition brought back valuable goods from a ship called Madre de Deus. After this, Raleigh returned to prison but was released soon after and joined Parliament.

During these years, Raleigh travelled a lot and eventually regained the Queen's favour. He built a new house at Sherborne and became involved in local community matters. He also spoke in Parliament about important topics like religion and the navy.

First voyage to Guiana

Further information: Raleigh's El Dorado Expedition

In 1594, Raleigh learned about stories of a wonderful golden city near the Caroní River. The next year, he traveled to areas now known as Guyana and eastern Venezuela looking for a mythical place called Lake Parime and the city of Manoa. After returning to England, he wrote a book called The Discovery of Guiana in 1596, sharing his experiences and adding some exciting but untrue details. His book helped spread the legend of El Dorado. While Venezuela does have gold, there's no proof Raleigh ever found any mines there. Some people say he may have seen Angel Falls, but this is unlikely.

1596–1603

In 1596, Raleigh fought in the capture of Cádiz and was hurt in the battle. Later, in 1597, he joined a voyage to the Azores and helped protect England from a big Spanish attack called the 3rd Spanish Armada. Though the Armada was scattered by ships and storms, Raleigh and others managed to capture an important Spanish ship.

Raleigh served in Parliament for Dorset in 1597 and for Cornwall in 1601. From 1600 to 1603, he was governor of Jersey, a small island near France, where he improved its defenses by building new forts.

Trial and imprisonment

Sir Walter Raleigh faced big trouble when Queen Elizabeth I passed away in 1603. He was arrested and accused of treason because of a plan against the new king, James I. Raleigh was put in the Tower of London, a famous old prison.

Raleigh had a trial where he defended himself. The main proof against him was a confession from his friend, but Raleigh wanted his friend to speak in court. The judges did not let this happen, and Raleigh was found guilty. However, King James decided not to kill him, so Raleigh stayed in the Tower for many years. During this time, he wrote parts of a big book called The History of the World.

Second voyage to Guiana

In 1617, Raleigh received permission from the King to lead a second trip to Venezuela to find a place called El Dorado. During this trip, some of Raleigh's men, led by his friend Lawrence Kemys, attacked a Spanish settlement called Santo Tomé de Guayana on the Orinoco river. This attack went against Raleigh's orders and broke peace agreements with Spain. Sadly, Raleigh's son Walter was killed during the attack. After returning to England, the Spanish ambassador was very upset and asked the King to punish Raleigh again, which eventually happened. Raleigh was taken to London from Plymouth by Sir Lewis Stukley, where he had chances to escape but did not take them.

Execution and aftermath

Sir Walter Raleigh was beheaded on 29 October 1618 at the Old Palace Yard in the Palace of Westminster. Before the execution, he spoke calmly to the person carrying out the order, showing his courage.

After his death, his body was buried in St. Margaret's, Westminster. Even today, many think the decision to execute him was unfair.

Works

Sir Walter Raleigh wrote many books. One of his famous works is called The Historie of the World. In five bookes (first ed. 1614). Another book he wrote is The Discovery of Guiana. These books tell stories about his adventures and what he learned.

Poetry

Sir Walter Raleigh wrote poems in a simple, clear style. He was known for his "silver poets" who avoided complicated, fancy writing. His poems often talked about feelings like love, loss, beauty, and time. Many of his poems were short and inspired by real events.

Raleigh wrote poems such as "What is Our Life" and "The Lie", showing a thoughtful view of life. He also wrote a longer poem called "The Ocean's Love to Cynthia" while he was in prison. He even wrote a reply to a famous poem by Christopher Marlowe called "The Nymph's Reply to the Shepherd".

List of poems

Here are some of Raleigh's poems:

• "The Advice"
• "Another of the Same"
• "Conceit begotten by the Eyes"
• "Epitaph on Sir Philip Sidney"
• "Epitaph on the Earl of Leicester"
• "Even such is Time"
• "The Excuse"
• "False Love"
• "Farewell to the Court"
• "His Petition to Queen Anne of Denmark"
• "If Cynthia be a Queen"
• "In Commendation of George Gascoigne's Steel Glass"
• "The Lie"
• "Like Hermit Poor"
• "Lines from Catullus"
• "Love and Time"
• "My Body in the Walls captive"
• "The Nymph's Reply to the Shepherd"
• "Of Spenser's Faery Queen"
• "On the Snuff of a Candle"
• "The Ocean's Love to Cynthia"
• "A Poem entreating of Sorrow"
• "A Poem put into my Lady Laiton's Pocket"
• "The Pilgrimage"
• "A Prognistication upon Cards and Dice"
• "The Shepherd's Praise of Diana"
• "Sweet Unsure"
• "To His Mistress"
• "To the Translator of Lucan's Pharsalia"
• "What is Our Life?"
• "The Wood, the Weed, the Wag"

Writing Shakespeare

Some people have thought that Walter Raleigh might have helped write the plays we usually say were by William Shakespeare. This idea started in 1845 and was supported by a few scholars, but most experts today still believe Shakespeare wrote the plays himself.

Legacy

See also: Walter Raleigh in popular culture

In 2002, Raleigh was chosen in a BBC vote of the 100 Greatest Britons.

The capital city of North Carolina is named Raleigh in his honor. This city also has a bronze statue to remember him. The "Lost Colony" is remembered at the Fort Raleigh National Historic Site on Roanoke Island, North Carolina.

Raleigh County, West Virginia is also named after him.

Mount Raleigh in the Pacific Ranges of the Coast Mountains in British Columbia, Canada, was named for him. Nearby, Mount Gilbert was named for his half-brother, Sir Humphrey.

Raleigh may have helped bring the potato to Europe and Ireland, though this is debated by historians.

Because of Raleigh’s connection to smoking, John Lennon made a joke about him in a song called "I'm So Tired" from The Beatles album in 1968.

Raleigh's descendants

Many people say they are related to Sir Walter Raleigh, but most of these claims are not true. The real family lines come from Raleigh's only child, Carew Raleigh, who had three children: Walter, Anne, and Philip.

Walter Raleigh was knighted in 1660 but passed away two months later. He had three daughters: Elizabeth, Philippa, and Anne. Philippa and Anne both had children who lived on. Anne Raleigh married Sir Peter Tyrrell, and their family continued through their daughter Harriet. Philip Raleigh shared his grandfather’s unpublished writings. Sadly, two of Philip’s sons died from fever while serving far away, and another died in battle. Only one of Philip’s grandchildren lived long enough to be the last in direct line from Sir Walter Raleigh. One of Philip’s daughters, Frances, married into a family that includes famous people today like Lord Mountbatten and the actor Hugh Grant.