Ralph Lane Colony

  • Period: 1550 to 1560

    Government

    Served in the English Parliament in late 1550s and early 1560s.
  • 1554

    College

    Attended Oxford University
  • 1563

    Server the Queen

    Lane was serving in Queen Elizabeth I’s court
  • 1569

    The force

    Lane participated in a force that suppressed a rebellion in Scotland
  • Period: 1570 to 1580

    Helping England

    Developing plans and offering his services in helping England struggle with Spain
  • 1571

    Maritime Affairs

    Lane had involved himself in maritime affairs which included a queen’s commission to seize ships
  • Got Commission

    Lane received a commission to go to Ireland and direct the construction of forts.
  • Started sailing

    Seven ships with about 600 men under the overall command of Sir Richard Grenville left England.
  • Got orders from the Queen

    Queen recalled Lane from Ireland and he was given command of the colony that Sir Walter Raleigh was organizing to sail to Virginia (Roanoke Island).
  • Leaving the island

    A fleet led by Sir Francis Drake left Roanoke carrying the first English colonists back home.
  • Got a Job

    Lane was back in Ireland in 1592 serving as “muster master general” and “clerk of the check of the garrison”
  • Sick

    Lane’s physical weakness had made him unfit as muster master.
  • Died

    Lane died in Dublin, Ireland, in October 1603 and was buried at St. Patrick’s Church on the 28th of that month.