SirWalterRaleigh1

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Matthaeus 1 April 5, 2010 English 1 **WHO WAS SIR WALTER RALEIGH? WHAT WAS HIS CONNECTION TO** **ELIZABETH****? WHAT IS HIS CONNECTION TO** **EL DORADO****? WHAT IS HIS LEGACY?**

Answer prepared by: Alex Matthaeus In 1554 in Devonshire, England a boy was born who would come to be known as one of the most famous explorers in history; his name was Sir Walter Raleigh. According to the website //Elizabethan Era//, Raleigh received a great education from Oriel College and moved on to his dream job of exploring the world. His father was a farmer and his older half-brother, Sir Humphrey Gilbert, also became an explorer. After college in 1578 Raleigh and Gilbert sailed together to America and got their first taste of the new world. When they returned Raleigh put down an Irish rebellion. According to the website //Lumanarium//, this was when he was first really recognized by Queen Elizabeth I. Walter and Elizabeth went on to have a long and complicated relationship. Not only was Sir Walter Raleigh an explorer, he was a poet, courtier, and a love of the Queen. Sir Walter Raleigh was known for his good looks and charming personality. These traits made him a quick favorite of Queen Elizabeth I even though there was a large age difference between them. He would do things like laying down his coat in the mud for the Queen to walk over so she would not get dirty. According to the book //Elizabethan Renaissance// by A.L Rowse (34), Raleigh also wooed her with his poetry. Because Sir Walter Raleigh was one of the Queen’s favorites, he was able to go on as many explorations he wanted to. According to the book //What Life was Like in the Realm of Elizabethan England// (131-133), Raleigh received a patent from the Queen to explore and settle in North America. Raleigh set off for the new land and eventually arrived on June 4, 1584 and began to set up the colony of Virginia on Roanoke Island. The Queen had full confidence in her favorite courtier in colonizing Virginia, which he named after her virginity, and made him its governor. After many different preparations in America, Raleigh returned home in 1589. His relationship soon turned sour when Raleigh secretly married one of Elizabeth’s maids. According to the website //Elizabethan Era,// she was so angry that she threw him in jail, but released him soon after so he could search for the fabled City of Gold. In the end Elizabeth’s love for Raleigh helped create the USA but it was a rocky road. Sir Walter Raleigh was also important because he started the myth of a legendary city of gold called El Dorado in Guiana. He first tried to find the city of gold in 1595. When he was searching he also explored a place called Orinoco. But then Elizabeth I died and King James took the thrown. Soon after that King James imprisoned Raleigh when he took part in a conspiracy because he was having financial issues. Later Raleigh was freed because he promised the king he would find El Dorado. According to the website //Elizabethan Era//, he was unable to find the City of Gold and attacked a Spanish settlement. According to the book //Elizabethan England// by William Lace (32-33), King James put him to death for disobeying his Spanish peace order which he made so that the shakey relationship England had would not crumble, leading to war. The legacy of Sir Walter Raleigh is many different things. From colonizing a new world to searching for a city of gold, Raleigh was an impressive and innovative figure in Elizabethan England. In the end Sir Walter Raleigh will always be remembered and respected for his great explorations and adventures.

** Works Cited for Sir Walter Raleigh ** 1. Editors of, Time-Life books. //What Life was Like in the Realm of Elizabethan England//. Alexandria: Time life books, 2006. 131-133. Print. 2. Hinds, Kathryn. //Elizabeth and Her Court//. New York: Marshall Cavendish corp., 2008. 35-36. Print. 3. Lace, William. //Elizabethan// //England//. New York city: Thomson Gale, 2006. 32-33. Print. 4. Rowse, A.L. //Elizabethan Renaissance: the Life of the Society//. Chicago: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1971. 34. Print 5. "Sir Walter Raleigh." //Elizabethan Era//. N.p., n.d. Web. 4 Apr 2010. . 6. "Walter Raleigh (c.1552 - 1618)." //Historic Figures//. BBC, n.d. Web. 4 Apr 2010. .