Richard Grenville

Sir Richard Grenville (June 6, 1542 – September 10, 1591) (sp. var: Greynvile, Greeneville, etc.) was an Elizabethan sailor, explorer, and soldier. He was born and brought up at Buckland Abbey in Devon, England. Grenville was a cousin of both Sir Walter Raleigh and Sir Francis Drake, and grandfather of Sir Richard Grenville, of English Civil War notoriety.

Related Topics:
June 6 - 1542 - September 10 - 1591 - Elizabethan - Sailor - Explorer - Soldier - Buckland Abbey - Devon, England - Walter Raleigh - Francis Drake - Sir Richard Grenville - English Civil War

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In 1585, before there was any permanent English settlement in Virginia, Grenville landed there with seven ships. The natives he encountered were hospitable. When one of the natives stole a small silver cup, though, Grenville sacked and burned the whole native village.

Related Topics:
1585 - Virginia

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Grenville founded the "Lost Colony" of Roanoke Island off the coast of North Carolina.

Related Topics:
Roanoke Island - North Carolina

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In 1591 Grenville sailed to the Azores with a squadron of Elizabeth's ships to capture Spanish treasure ships returning from the Americas. Philip II of Spain sent a larger squadron to challenge him, forcing the English to flee - but Grenville's ship The Revenge stayed in port where Grenville died after defiant resistance.

Related Topics:
1591 - Azores - Spanish - Philip II of Spain - The Revenge

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