Talk:Walter Raleigh

Father of British America

Are there any sources that say Raleigh was the Father of British America since he founded a British colony on Roanoke Island in 1585 and 1587? Sir Francis Drake claimed New Albion for Queen Elizabeth in 1579, but no colony was set up, only a fort, to repair a ship. Cmguy777 (talk) 03:39, 25 May 2022 (UTC)

You can cite:

Edwards, Edward. The Life of Sir Walter Ralegh. London: Macmillan, 1868.

and

Sir Walter Ralegh: Architect of Empire by Alan Gallay (2019).

This monicker was primarily used by authors to recognize his ambition, vision and role in initiating English colonization efforts. Despite the eventual failure of Roanoke, Raleigh was thought to be the founder of the British framework for colonization. TWPalmer01 (talk) 23:26, 2 November 2024 (UTC)

Relevant to Legacy?

"In January 2014, the Raleigh Rum Company was founded in Raleigh, North Carolina."

This appears under 'Legacy' with no explanation. Is it truly relevant to this bio that his last name was used to title an American rum company in 2014, especially when said company was named for the *city* and not the man?

I mean, should we add every company founded in every city bearing his name to this section? This seems ridiculous to me unless there is context I'm missing. TricksterWolf (talk) 14:34, 21 May 2024 (UTC)

@TricksterWolf: I have removed it. I agree, it was ridiculous to include it. DuncanHill (talk) 20:07, 24 September 2024 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 2 November 2024

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Raleigh proceeded to finish his education in the Inns of Court.[3] In 1575, he was admitted to the Middle Temple, having previously been a member of Lyon's Inn, one of the Inns of Chancery.[12] At his trial in 1603, he stated that he had never studied law.[citation needed]

To:

Raleigh proceeded to finish his education in the Inns of Court.[3] In 1575, he was admitted to the Middle Temple, having previously been a member of Lyon's Inn, one of the Inns of Chancery.[12] At his trial in 1603, he stated that he had never studied law.

Semi-protected edit request on 2 November 2024 (2)

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Raleigh wanted to defect to Spain and sell his ship the Ark. Philip refused to buy the ship, but encouraged the passing of information from Raleigh.

In 1588, Raleigh had some involvement with defence against the Spanish Armada at Devon. The ship that he had built, offered to sell to Spain, and later sold to the crown, the Ark Royal, was Lord High Admiral Howard's flagship.[37]

To:

During this time, it was thought that Raleigh was willing to pass naval intelligence about English defenses to the Spanish. However these treasonous rumors could not be substantiated and hard evidence to that effect was never found.

In 1588, Raleigh played a vital role in the defense against the Spanish Armada, primarily through logistical support and local leadership. Although he did not command any ships, he was instrumental in raising troops and organizing local militia in Devon, leveraging his influence as a landowner. As a member of the Council of War, Raleigh contributed to naval planning and strategy discussions, drawing on his experience in shipbuilding and navigation. His efforts, including financial contributions to the fleet's readiness, demonstrated his commitment to England's defense during this pivotal moment in history.

Justification:

This excerpt may have been sourced from Robert Lacy (Lacey, Robert. Sir Walter Ralegh. London: Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 1973, pp. 258–261.) who provided inaccuracies and lacked historical context. To rebut, at the time of Gamboa's capture, the Ark Royal was no longer owned by Raleigh nor was he in command of the ship. He captained the Santa Ana while his cousin, Sir Richard Grenville was in command of the Ark Royal. Researchers agree that historically, "offering his ship to Philip" meant offering the intelligence of England's naval fleet not the actual transfer of a vessel's ownership . There is no evidence or rumor regarding Raleigh offering to transfer ownership of a ship.

Regarding 1588, outside of the purchase inaccuracies, the original excerpt puts the focus on the Ark Royal and not on the contributions of Raleigh in preparing for but not commanding ships against the Spanish Armada. The recommended revision shifts focus back to Raleigh and his life during the 1580's. TWPalmer01 (talk) 22:18, 2 November 2024 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 2 November 2024 (3)

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From 1600 to 1603, as governor of the Channel Island of Jersey, Raleigh modernised its defences. This included the construction of a new fort protecting the approaches to Saint Helier, Fort Isabella Bellissima, or Elizabeth Castle [Citation Needed]

To:

From 1600 to 1603, as governor of the Channel Island of Jersey, Raleigh modernised its defences. This included the construction of a new fort protecting the approaches to Saint Helier, Fort Isabella Bellissima, or Elizabeth Castle TWPalmer01 (talk) 22:40, 2 November 2024 (UTC)