The Roanoke Colony was Britain's first attempt to start a colony in the New World. The mission was funded by Sir Humphrey Gilbert and Sir Walter Raleigh. They had the blessing from Queen Elizabeth I. Both Gilbert and Raleigh had made trial runs to start colonies in Ireland. They had had mixed results. The initial goal of this colony was to set up a British raiding port, so that they could attack Spanish ships. It became much more then this however. The first voyage to Roanoke occurred in 1584. It was more of a fact finding mission. Gilbert and Raleigh wanted to see what was there. When they got to Roanoke they encountered the Seacotans and the Croatoan Indians. This first mission was led by Sir Richard Grenville. Grenville was a privateer who had executed numerous raids on Spanish ships. Grenville and his men went missing after they tried to explore the interior of the new land. When the remaining men from the first voyage returned they brought an Indian from each tribe back with them. These Indians told Raleigh all about the geography of Roanoke. After hearing this Raleigh then decided to send another group of colonists to the island. In 1587, 115 British colonists led by John White departed for Roanoke. Their goal was to set up an actual government, and also to find Richard Grenville and his men. They were unsuccessful at both. When they reached the island, their ship ran aground, damaging their supplies. White was forced to sail back to England for supplies. He was unable to return to England for three years, due to the Spanish Armada. When White finally was able to return to Roanoke he found no trace of the 115 settlers. The only clue he found was the word "Croatoan" carved into a tree. The fort had been dismantled, but there seemed to be no sign of a struggle. White and his men attempted to search for the missing colonists, but had to abandon their efforts when a storm came up. They sailed back to England, and the colonists were never heard from again, many historians believe they were captured and forced to live with the Croatoan Indians. The Roanoke Colony was a failed colonization attempt for the British. Roanoke will forever be known as the lost colony.
Above is a map of the Roanoke Colony, drawn by John White.
This is what the fort at Roanoke would most likely have looked like.
Above is a picture of Sir Walter Raleigh.
Above is a picture of Sir Humphrey Gilbert.
Above is a picture of what the fort at Roanoke looks like today.
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