Christopher Newport

Christopher Newport (c. 1560–1617) was the English captain of the Susan Constant, the ship which carried settlers for the Virginia Company in 1607 on the way to found the Jamestown Colony in North America.

Related Topics:
1560 - 1617 - English - Virginia Company - 1607 - Jamestown Colony - North America

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For fifteen years, Newport had been a privateer who raided Spanish freighters off and on in the Caribbean. The spoils from these missions was shared with London merchants who funded them. Over the years he commanded a series of privateer ships, including the Little John, the Margaret, and the Golden Dragon. In August 1592, he captured the Spanish ship the Madre de Dios, off the Azores, taking the greatest English plunder of the century. His ship returned to port in England carrying five hundred tons of spices, silks, gemstones, and other treasures.

Related Topics:
Privateer - Spanish - Caribbean - London - 1592 - Azores

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In 1605, after another mission to the Caribbean, he returned to England with two baby crocodiles and a wild boar to give as gifts to King James I who had a fascination with exotic animals.

Related Topics:
1605 - Caribbean - Crocodile - King James I

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It was Newport's experience as well as his reputation which led to his hiring by the Virginia Company. On December 19, 1606, Newport set sail from London with three ships: the Susan Constant, Godspeed and Discovery.

Related Topics:
December 19 - 1606 - London

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In June 1607, Newport returned to England for supplies and more settlers, leaving behind 104 colonists. When he returned to Jamestown the next year, most of the settlers had died from starvation, Indian attacks or disease. It is said that Newport prevented John Smith from being executed for failing to protect his men from Indian attack.

Related Topics:
1607 - Indian

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Newport made a fourth trip to America in 1609, as captain of the Sea Venture and "Vice Admiral" of the Third Supply

Related Topics:
1609 - Sea Venture - Third Supply

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and was shipwrecked off of Bermuda, in an incident which is often credited as the inspiration for Shakespeare's play The Tempest.

Related Topics:
Bermuda - Shakespeare's - The Tempest

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Years later (1613–1614) Newport sailed for the British East India Company to Asia. He died in Java (now part of Indonesia) in 1617 on a voyage to the East Indies.

Related Topics:
1613 - 1614 - British East India Company - Asia - Java - Indonesia - 1617 - East Indies

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Christopher Newport University, in Newport News, Virginia, is named in honor of him.

Related Topics:
Christopher Newport University - Newport News, Virginia

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