Walter Raleigh

Sailor, Politician

1552 – 1618

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Who was Walter Raleigh?

Sir Walter Raleigh was an English aristocrat, writer, poet, soldier, politician, courtier, spy, and explorer and cousin to Sir Richard Grenville. He is also well known for popularising tobacco in England.

Raleigh was born to a Protestant family in Devon, the son of Walter Raleigh and Catherine Champernowne. Little is known of his early life, though he spent some time in Ireland, in Killua Castle, Clonmellon, County Westmeath, taking part in the suppression of rebellions and participating in the Siege of Smerwick. Later, he became a landlord of property confiscated from the native Irish. He rose rapidly in the favour of Queen Elizabeth I and was knighted in 1585. Instrumental in the English colonisation of North America, Raleigh was granted a royal patent to explore Virginia, which paved the way for future English settlements. In 1591, he secretly married Elizabeth Throckmorton, one of the Queen's ladies-in-waiting, without the Queen's permission, for which he and his wife were sent to the Tower of London. After his release, they retired to his estate at Sherborne, Dorset.

Famous Quotes:

  • All histories do show, and wise politicians do hold it necessary that, for the well-governing of every Commonweal, it behoveth man to presuppose that all men are evil, and will declare themselves so to be when occasion is offered.
  • Who so taketh in hand to frame any state or government ought to presuppose that all men are evil, and at occasions will show themselves so to be.
  • I wish I loved the Human Race; I wish I loved its silly face; I wish I liked the way it walks; I wish I liked the way it talks; And when I'm introduced to one I wish I thought What Jolly Fun!
  • For whosoever commands the sea commands the trade; whosoever commands the trade of the world commands the riches of the world, and consequently the world itself.
  • Hatreds are the cinders of affection.
  • Talking much is a sign of vanity, for the one who is lavish with words is cheap in deeds.
  • The world is but a large prison, out of which some are daily selected for execution.
  • But it is hard to know them from friends, they are so obsequious and full of protestations; for a wolf resembles a dog, so doth a flatterer a friend.
  • No man is esteemed for colorful garments except by fools and women.
  • War begets quiet, quiet idleness, idleness disorder, disorder ruin; likewise ruin order, order virtue, virtue glory, and good fortune.

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Born
Jan 22, 1552
Devon
Also known as
  • Sir Walter Raleigh
Parents
Siblings
Spouses
Children
Nationality
  • England
Profession
Education
  • Oriel College, Oxford
  • University of Oxford
Died
Oct 29, 1618
London
Resting place
St Margaret's, Westminster

Submitted
on July 23, 2013

Citation

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