Walter Raleigh

Sir Walter Raleigh, who lived from around 1553 until his execution on 29 October 1618, was an English statesman, soldier, writer, and explorer. A key figure in the Elizabethan era, he was instrumental in England’s efforts to colonise North America, helped put down rebellion in Ireland, took part in defending England against the Spanish Armada, and served in political roles under Queen Elizabeth I.

Early life

Born into a Protestant landed gentry family in Devon, he was the son of Walter Raleigh and Catherine Champernowne, who was herself the daughter of Sir Philip Champernowne. Raleigh was the younger half-brother of Sir Humphrey Gilbert and a cousin of Sir Richard Grenville.

Not much is known about his early years, but as a teenager he spent time in France fighting in the religious civil wars. In his twenties, he helped suppress a rebellion during the colonisation of Ireland and was present at the siege of Smerwick. Later, he owned property in Ireland and served as mayor of Youghal in east Munster.

Raleigh quickly gained favour with Queen Elizabeth I and was knighted in 1584. He received a royal patent in 1584 to explore and colonise lands in North America, which later came to be called Virginia, helping pave the way for later English settlements.

1590–1594

In 1591, he secretly married Elizabeth Throckmorton, one of the queen’s ladies-in-waiting, without Elizabeth’s permission. As punishment, both he and his wife were sent to the Tower of London. After being released, they retired to his estate at Sherborne, Dorset.

First voyage to Guiana

In 1594, Raleigh heard rumours of a “City of Gold” in South America and set sail to find it. He later published an exaggerated account of his journey, which helped fuel the legend of El Dorado. After Queen Elizabeth died in 1603, Raleigh was again imprisoned in the Tower, this time for his involvement in the Main Plot against King James I, who did not look favourably on him.

In 1616, he was freed to lead a second expedition searching for El Dorado. During that trip, men under his top commander attacked a Spanish outpost, breaking both the terms of his pardon and the 1604 peace treaty with Spain. When Raleigh returned to England, he was arrested and executed in 1618 to appease the Spanish.

Little is known about Raleigh’s exact birth date, but he is thought to have been born on 22 January 1552 or possibly 1554.