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.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

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.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

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

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

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.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

June 6: June 6 is the 157th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (158th in leap years), with 208 days remaining....

September 10: September 10 is the 253rd day of the year (254th in leap years). There are 112 days following it....

Elizabethan: REDIRECT Elizabethan era...

Richard Grenville related Images and Photos (experimental)

Richard Grenville Earl Temple c.1760	A Plan of the Gardens of Richard Grenville Duke of Buckingham at Stowe	Richard III	Richard III
Richard Todd	Richard Egan	Richard Todd	Richard Petty
Richard Boone	Richard Boone	Richard Nelson	Richard Wattis