Life of Sir Walter Raleigh. The Writer

¶ … life of Sir Walter Raleigh. The writer of this paper takes the reader on an exploratory look at Sir Walter Raleigh and his accomplishments as well as his execution. There were three sources used to complete this paper.

THE MAN WITH MANY FACES

Throughout history, we have studied those who made a difference. There have been heroes and villains and everything in between, but rarely has there been such a mixed character as Sir Walter Raleigh. Sir Walter Raleigh was a man who penned love and died by execution and handled many different lifestyles in between. If one had to sum him up in one sentence it would be; "Sir Walter Raleigh was a versatile Renaissance Man."

When Sir Walter Raleigh was born it was in the mid-1500's. One of the things he did that prepared him for the future events of his life was spend time as a volunteer in the Huguenot Army of France. While it was rumored that he studied for a while at Oxford he later became better known as a Courtier, Poet and Adventurer. As soon as he returned to England in 1581 Raleigh became a favorite and frequent guest of Queen Elizabeth the First (Life of Raleigh (http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/people/A0860633.html).Hewasalways considered a charming man and his wit and personality won her over more so than his chivalrous acts. Getting into the queen's good graces was a smart move on the part of Raleigh who was later knighted in 1585 and was given a large portion of land in Ireland as well as a wine business. Had Raleigh not angered and made enemies of several important movers and shakers he could have had a great future in politics. However, because he angered so many who were key elements of any political climb his political aspirations failed and he became an expert administrator instead (Life of Raleigh (http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/people/A0860633.html).

As a traveler and explorer he was often considered an upstart. Because of a 1587 appointment to an important position that required constant attendance to the queen he had more than his share of limelight.

Raleigh conceived and organized the colonizing expeditions to America that ended tragically with the "lost colony" expeditions on Roanoke Island, N.C. He was later named a member of the commission for the defense against Spain, but it is doubtful that he participated in the naval operations against the Spanish Armada (1588). Probably because of his conflict with Robert Devereux, 2d earl of Essex, Elizabeth's new favorite, Raleigh left court in 1589. At Kilcolman Castle, Ireland, he became a close friend of Edmund Spenser, whose Faerie Queene, begun under the aegis of Sir Philip Sidney, was continued under Raleigh's patronage (Life of Raleigh (http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/people/A0860633.html)."

His friendship with Elizabeth turned sour when she learned that he had married one of her maid of honors. She called him back from his expeditions and had him jailed for what she felt was a crime on his part. He only gained release when he was later needed to settle a dispute about another expedition in which the goods were argued over by those involved. His ability to be diplomatic and administrate were called upon and his success gained his release from prison (A Short Biography of Sir Walter Raleigh (http://www.huvard.com/becka/raleigh/raleigh_bio.html)

While he was free from jail he was still barred from court because the queen had not gotten over her anger at his marriage. He instead sat in Parliament and it was during this time he became famous for his association with the School of Night association.

His political aspirations were renewed and he climbed to the position of governor in 1600. Unfortunately he still had his previous political enemies and this turn of events only fueled the fire. There were attempts at successions and many of Raleigh's offices and monopolies were lost to the strength of his enemies (Sir Walter Raleigh. (http://www.who2.com/cgi-bin/r-http://www.britishexplorers.com/woodbury/raleigh.html)

He was found guilty of intrigues with Spain against England and of participation in a plot to kill the king and enthrone Arabella Stuart. Saved from the block by a reprieve, Raleigh settled down in the Tower and devoted himself to literature and science. There he began his incomplete History of the World (Sir Walter Raleigh. (http://www.who2.com/cgi-bin/r-http://www.britishexplorers.com/woodbury/raleigh.html)

He was released in 1616 and took on another voyage to try and locate gold. He was warned before his departure not to take up any pirating actions against Spanish possessions or ships. The expedition failed. Raleigh returned and was executed for the treason he had committed under an old and little used statute that was still on the books.