RALEIGH, SIR WALTER, the son of Welter Raleigh of Fardel in Devonshire, was b. in 1552 at Hayes, on the coast of that county. In 1568, he was sent to Oxford as a com moner of Oriel college, and though his residence there was brief. gave token of remark able-ability. Only the year after, relinQuishiug study for adventure, he went to France as volunteer in ail expedition in aid of the Huguenots; and some years subsequently we find him serving in the Low Countries in a force sent by queen Elizabeth to assist the Dutch in their patriotic struggle against the Spaniards. Of this earlier part of his nothing specially remarkable is recorded. In 1579 he made his first venture in the'field of activity which through life continued at intervals to attract him, sailing, in conjunction with his half-brother. sir Humphrey Gilbert, with the purpose of founding a colony ,in North America. The expedition proved unsuccessful, being roughly Itandleit by a Spanish force, and obliged to return in somewnat evil case. During the year following Raleigh held a captain's commission in Ireland, where, in operations against the rebels, he distinguished himself by his courage and conduct. Shortly after his he seems first to have attracted the notice of queen Elizabeth, with whom he epeedily rose. high in favor. The story which attributes the commencement of his rela tions with her to his graceful gallantry in spreading before her his costly mantle as a carpet, is so well-known, that it need only be glanced :It in passing. For some years forward.he was constant in his attendance upon the queen, who distinguished him by employing him from time to time in various delicate offices of trust, and by substantial marks of her favor. The spirit of enterprise was, however, restless in the man; and in 15S4, a patent having been granted him to take possession of lands to be discovered him on the continent of North America, he fitted out two ships at his own and shortly achieved the discovery and occupation of the territory 'known as Virginia. a name chosen as containing an allusion to the " virgin-queen" herself. Elizabeth also
conferred on Raleigh the honor of knighthood. If we except the questionable benefit —with which Raleigh's name remains connected—of the introduction of tobacco into Europe, no immediate good came of the colony; and after some years of struggle, during which he sent out several auxiliary expeditions, he was forced to relinquish his connection with it.
During the years 1587-8S, the country being menaced by a Spanish invasion, Raleigh was actively and responsibly occupied in organizing a resistance, and held command of the queen's forces in Cornwall. In the latter year he shared with new access of honor in the series of actions which ended in the defeat and dispersion of the great armada, and was thanked and rewarded for his services. Shortly after (1593), in consequence of an intrigue, resulting in his private marriage with Elizabeth Throckmorton, one of the queen's maids of honor, he incurred her majesty's severe, but only temporary, displeas ure. In his banishment from court, he recurred to those schemes of conquest and adventure in the new world which formed one main dream of his life; and, in 1595, headed an expedition to Guiana, having for its object the discovery of the fabled El Dorado, a city of gold and gems, the existence of which in these regions was then gen erally believed in. Of this brilliant but fruitless adventure, on returning, he published an account. Having been reinstated in the royal favor, he held in 1596 the post of admiral in the expedition against Cadiz, commanded by Howard and the earl of Essex, and was admittedly the main instrument of its success. Also, in the year following, he took part in the attack on the Azores made by the same commanders. In the court intrigues which ended iv the downfall of the earl of Essex, he after this became deeply involved; and certain points of his conduct, as notably the sale of his good offices with the queen in behalf of such of the earl's adherents as would buy them, though easily regarded by the current morality of the time, have fixed somewhat of a stain on a fame otherwise so splendid.