Walter Raleigh

Alternatively, Professor Walter Raleigh was a scholar and author circa 1900.

The New World

Raleigh's scheme for colonization in "Virginia" in North America (1585 onwards) ended in failure at Roanoke Island around 1587–1590.

Related Topics:
Virginia - North America - Roanoke Island - 1587 - 1590

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

As somewhat of a travel agent, he put together a persuasive brochure encouraging Europeans to move to the New World. Eventually, a voyage was created, and the ships landed at Roanoke Island. They planned to drop the colonists off and then return a few months later with supplies for them.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

However, Roanoke Island, even today, has many bugs and mosquitos and is covered with very thick woods. It was not the ideal spot to leave the colonists. In about 1589 or 1590, the ships returned to Roanoke Island with supplies. They couldn't find any of the colonists. Roanoke Island was not an ideal place to stay, and they searched for the colonists only for about 45 minutes. Adding to the mystery, they found the word "CROATOAN" carved into a tree.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Historians guess what probably happened was that most of the women and children died soon after the landing, and the men became indoctrinated into the society of the local tribe, the Croatoan. The European men took advantage of the native women, and so the native chief killed them. Today the missing colonists have been named "The Lost Colony."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Raleigh's position of influence was greatly extended as he became one of Elizabeth's spymasters, along with Francis Walsingham, and was largely responsible for the uncovering of the Babington plot (1586), a Catholic plot to dethrone Elizabeth and replace her with Mary, Queen of Scots; as a result of this Elizabeth granted Raleigh an estate in Ireland. Mary became implicated in the Babington conspiracy and subsequently suffered execution (1587).

Related Topics:
Francis Walsingham - Babington plot - 1586 - Mary, Queen of Scots - Ireland

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~