Sir Walter Raleigh

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Sir Walter Raleigh (1552-1618) was an English adventurer, writer and nobleman. After growing close to Elizabeth I during his time in the army, Raleigh was knighted in 1585 and became captain of the guard.

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During Elizabeth’s reign, Raleigh organized three major expeditions to America. He later drew the queen’s wrath and was imprisoned in the Tower of London. On his release he led an abortive expedition to Guiana to search for El Dorado, a legendary land of gold. Instead, he helped to introduce the potato plant and tobacco use in England and Ireland.

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After Elizabeth’s death in 1603, Raleigh was implicated as an enemy of her successor, James I, and given a death sentence.

The sentence was commuted, and Raleigh was freed to lead an expedition to the New World, but its failure sealed his fate.

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Source: Wikipedia / History.com

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