Sir Humphrey Gilbert

Sir Humphrey Gilbert

Biography, Timeline & Facts about the famous explorer, explorations & voyages in the Age of Exploration

Short Biography of the life of Sir Humphrey Gilbert - Explorer and Soldier
The following biography information provides basic facts about the life Sir Humphrey Gilbert:

• Nationality - English

• Lifespan - 1539 - 1583

• Family - Half brother to Sir Walter Raleigh, cousin to Sir Francis Drake

• Education - Eton and Oxford University

• Career - Explorer and Soldier

• Famous for : Established St Johns, Newfoundland in 1583

• Ambition: To discover a North West Passage to Cathay ( the Orient )

Facts, Timeline & History about the life of Sir Humphrey Gilbert
Explorer, Privateer and Soldier
The following are additional facts with a timeline about the life and history of Sir Humphrey Gilbert:

• 1539 Sir Humphrey Gilbert was born in Compton in Devonshire

• 1562 -1563: Sir Humphrey Gilbert served with an English force at Le Havre

• 1565: Sir Humphrey Gilbert petitioned Queen Elizabeth in order to find a Northwest sea passage via America to Cathay

• 1566: Sir Humphrey Gilbert  completed a treatise, the title of which, when later revised, was “A discourse of a discoverie for a new passage to Cataia” to prove the existence of a northwest passage

• 1569: Sir Humphrey Gilbert fought in the Irish War for England

• 1570: Humphrey Gilbert was knighted

• 1570: Sir Humphrey Gilbert married the heiress Anne Aucher

• 1575-78 Three exploratory trips by English buccaneer Martin Frobisher to Labrador in fruitless search for a Northwest Passage to Asia. These attempts were backed by Queen Elizabeth and Humphrey Gilbert. Sir Humphrey Gilbert consulted John Dee on maps and possible routes

• 1576: “A discourse of a discoverie for a new passage to Cataia” by Sir Humphrey Gilbert was published

• 1578: Queen Elizabeth granted Sir Humphrey Gilbert a patent to discover and settle new English colonies "to inhabit and possess all remote and heathen lands". He begins to search for the Northwest Passage. Sir Humphrey Gilbert also became a Privateer, his many target was the Spanish treasure fleet

• 1578 Sir Humphrey Gilbert also became a Privateer, his many target was the Spanish treasure fleet. Humphrey Gilbert sailed for America with 350 men but was forced to return

• Sep 26, 1578 Sir Humphrey Gilbert sets sails from Dartmouth to the New World. The attempt soon fails due to lack of equipment and lack of discipline

• 1582: Sir Humphrey Gilbert arranged for the settlement of English Catholics in America

• Jun 11, 1583: Sir Humphrey Gilbert departs England with five ships for the New World and Newfoundland

• Aug 3, 1583: Sir Humphrey Gilbert arrives at Newfoundland and claims it in the name of the Crown

• Sep 9, 1583 : Sir Humphrey Gilbert drowns at sea on his journey home

Famous Elizabethans - Sir Humphrey Gilbert - Explorer and Soldier
Some interesting facts and biography information about the History, Life & Times of Sir Humphrey Gilbert. Additional details, facts, history and information about the famous Elizabethans and events in Elizabethan Times can be accessed via the Elizabethan Era Sitemap.