SIR WALTER RALEIGH

Sir Walter Raleigh was an explorer, a politician, a historian, a soldier, a sailor, and a poet. He was born at Hayes, Devonshire in 1552(Compton’s Encyclopedia. 91). The year of his birth is somewhat in question. Some believe he was born in 1554(Poetry Criticism. 200). He entered Oriel College, Oxford in 1568, but te next year he left to join the Huguenot Army in France.
Sir Raleigh gained the recognition of Queen Elizabeth I after his heroic efforts in the suppression of the Irish rebellion in Cork. The story was that he won the Queens favor by throwing his expensive velvet cloak on a mud puddle and allowing the queen to walk on it so she did not get her shoes wet( Compton’s Encyclopedia. 90).
Sir Raleigh was said to be a handsome and witty man, with country manners and imposing personality. He was a proud man. Queen Elizabeth granted him many favors during her reign. He always fulfilled his responsibilities in an excellent manner. His greatest claim to fame was his e...