Sir Walter Raleigh
(1554-1618)

Died aged c. 64

Sir Walter Raleigh (/ˈrɔːli, ˈræli, ˈrɑːli/; c. 1552 – 29 October 1618) was an English statesman, soldier, writer and explorer. One of the most notable figures of the Elizabethan era, he played a leading part in English colonisation of North America, suppressed rebellion in Ireland, helped defend England against the Spanish Armada and held political positions under Elizabeth I. Raleigh was born to a Protestant family in Devon, the son of Walter Raleigh and Catherine Champernowne. He was the younger half-brother of Sir Humphrey Gilbert and a cousin of Sir Richard Grenville. Little is known of his early life, though in his late teens he spent some time in France taking part in the religious civil wars. In his 20s he took part in the suppression of rebellion in the colonisation of Ireland; he also participated in the siege of Smerwick. Later, he became a landlord of property in Ireland and mayor of Youghal in East Munster, where his house still stands in Myrtle Grove. He rose rapidly in the favour of Queen Elizabeth I and was knighted in 1585. He was granted a royal patent to explore Virginia, paving 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. In 1594, Raleigh heard of a "City of Gold" in South America and sailed to find it, publishing an exaggerated account of his experiences in a book that contributed to the legend of "El Dorado". After Queen Elizabeth died in 1603, Raleigh was again imprisoned in the Tower, this time for being involved in the Main Plot against King James I, who was not favourably disposed towards him. In 1616, he was released to lead a second expedition in search of El Dorado. During the expedition, men led by his top commander ransacked a Spanish outpost, in violation of both the terms of his pardon and the 1604 peace treaty with Spain. Raleigh returned to England and, to appease the Spanish, he was arrested and executed in 1618.

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Commemorated on 3 plaques

Eagle House. A fine Queen Anne house built in the dutch style, in 1706, probably for Ferando Mendez, a Royal Physician. The land was originally owned by Walter Raleigh. In Victorian times, it was part of the Holborn Union Workhouse School

224 London Road, Mitcham CR4 3HD, London, United Kingdom where they owned land

Raleigh's Seat Sir Walter Raleigh built this stone seat into the wall beside the road so he could sit here and look over his gardens, while at the same time keeping an eye on the traffic. The road was the main route to Dorchester until 1856 when the present New Road was built. Raleigh learnt how to smoke tobacco from the Red Indians and there is a story that Sir Walter was sitting here enjoying his pipe, when a servant approached with a jug of ale. Thinking his master was on fire he threw the ale over him!

Raleigh's Seat - Sherborne Castle & Lakeside Gardens, Sherborne, United Kingdom where they built this stone seat into the wall beside the road

Sir Walter Raleigh 1552-1618 Explorer, Spy, Politician, Writer & Poet Arrested for treason here at Exeter Inn July 19 1603 and imprisoned in the Tower of London. Beheaded at Old Palace Yard, Westminster October 29 1618

26 West St, Ashburton, United Kingdom where they was arrested (1603)