Sunday 25 January 2009

Walter Raleigh executed

Walter Raleigh (c.1552 - 1618)

James VI of Scotland disliked Raleigh and in 1603 he was accused of plotting against the king and sentenced to death. This was reduced to life imprisonment and Raleigh spent the next 12 years in the Tower of London, where he wrote the first volume of his 'History of the World' (1614).

In 1616, Raleigh was released to lead a second expedition to search for El-Dorado. The expedition was a failure, and Raleigh also defied the king's instructions by attacking the Spanish. On his return to England, the death sentence was reinstated and Raleigh's execution took place on 29 October 1618.

From http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/raleigh_walter.shtml

No comments: