Sir Walter Raleigh is as close to the definition of a Renaissance Man as Britain offered. While Raleigh is best known as an explorer, he was also a soldier, a politician, writer, spy, poet, courtier, and landed gentry. Not much is known about his life between his birth in Devon in 1552 and his time as a soldier fighting in the French religious civil wars and suppressing rebellions in Ireland. Raleigh would make a name for himself in the latter country as a landlord. His time as a soldier and landowner helped to introduce him to Queen Elizabeth I, of whom he became a favourite and was granted a royal charter to explore North America. Of course, this is only a bit of the interesting information about Walter Raleigh, so enjoy these ten interesting facts about one of Britain’s greatest historical figures.

It’s in the Blood

Walter Raleigh wasn’t the only famous explorer in the family. Raleigh is related to Sir Humphrey Gilbert (his half-brother), John Hawkins, Sir Richard Grenville, and Sir Francis Drake. It was with Gilbert that Raleigh made his first trip to America in 1578.

Self-Funding

Walter Raleigh was wealthy enough that he and his friends were able to fund expeditions to the New World themselves.

In and Out of Favour

Raleigh certainly enjoyed the attentions of Queen Elizabeth I, he secretly married one of her ladies-in-waiting, Elizabeth Throckmorton, in 1591 and she became pregnant with his child. The marriage had occurred without the permission of the Queen, and she had Walter and Elizabeth imprisoned in the Tower of London when she found out. He was eventually released and went back to exploring and attacking the Spanish, regaining Elizabeth’s favour with his captured prizes. Unfortunately, after her death and succession by King James I, Raleigh was implicated in a plot against James and imprisoned again. James gave him a pardon and Raleigh went back to exploring, trying to search for the fabled El Dorado. However, during this expedition, he attacked a Spanish outpost in defiance of treaties with Spain, and James had him brought back to England. Spain demanded Raleigh’s execution and James was not in a political position to say no. Raleigh was executed on 29 October 1618, his last words being “Strike, man, strike!”

Guv

Walter Raleigh was, at one time, appointed the Governor of the island of Jersey in the English Channel.

Chivalry

At least at one point when Raleigh was in Elizabeth’s favour, it is said that he laid his cape on the ground so that she would not have to step in a puddle.

North America

Raleigh was one of the first people to explore extensively the southeast part of North America. He named one area Virginia after Elizabeth and helped to establish the first colony in North Carolina, known as Roanoke. Unfortunately, when Raleigh returned to the colony three years later, there was no sign of the colonists, and no evidence as to what caused them to disappear, save the word “Croatoan” carved into a tree. The colonists’ disappearance remains a mystery to this day. Being important to the founding of the State of North Carolina, several places in the state are named after him, most notably, the capital of Raleigh.

Titles

Walter Raleigh was knighted by Elizabeth in 1585 and was appointed Warden of the Stanneries, which are the tin mines in Devon and Cornwall. Raleigh would also become a Member of Parliament for Dorset in 1597 and then for Cornwall in 1601.

Such Poetry

Most people are unaware of Walter Raleigh’s contributions to poetry. Raleigh was one of the “silver poets” of the era according to C.S. Lewis. This group of poets actively resisted the poetry trends of the Renaissance, eschewing elaborate devices and classic references for the straightforward conveyance of emotions and ideas. Raleigh wrote over 32 poems, including a response to Christopher Marlowe’s “The Passionate Shepherd to His Love.”

Thank You for Smoking

Raleigh never found gold in the Americas, but instead, he did manage to find potatoes and tobacco, both of which he introduced to the United Kingdom. Though these weren’t new items thanks to the Spanish, Raleigh helped to make them popular in Britain and introduced smoking to the court.

Three Ws

Walter’s father and son were both named Walter.