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Ralph Lane Colony

By saviyannah
  • 1528

    Ralph Lane

    Ralph Lane
    The first colony was organized as a military venture from which the Spanish, colonial rival of the English, could be harassed and to serve as a base for the exploration of the new land. In the end, the first colony was abandoned and the survivors returned back to England. It failed due to the settlements’ poor location and the colonists’ undue suffering; nevertheless, Lane’s colony provided the English with valuable knowledge and experience for future endeavors.
  • 1554

    Brief Background History

    Lane, born to Sir Ralph Lane and Maud Parr Lane of Northhampton, attended Oxford University in 1554 and served in the English Parliament in late 1550s and early 1560s.
  • 1563

    Serving the Queen

    By 1563 Lane was serving in Queen Elizabeth I’s court, marking the beginning of a career of service to queen and country. Lane participated in a force that suppressed a rebellion in Scotland in 1569 where he gained accolades for his military skill. By the early 1570s, Lane had involved himself in maritime affairs which included a queen’s commission to seize ships in 1571. By the late 1570s and early 1580s, he was developing plans and offering his services in helping England.

  • 1585

    In 1585 the 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). Raleigh evidently personally invited Lane to command the land expedition. In April 1585, seven ships with about 600 men under the overall command of Sir Richard Grenville left England.

  • 1585 (Continued)

    . They arrived at the Outer Banks by June. By August, the colony had come ashore and built a fort following an invitation from the Indians. Grenville’s fleet left at the end of August after being unable to secure a good harbor.

  • The Life Span of the Colony

    Lane’s colony of 107 men lasted for only eight months. Lane’s men explored the countryside with the intent of finding a better site for settlement. The colony suffered because of the lack of supplies and Lane’s lack of skill in dealing with the Indians. Eventually, Lane decided to abandon the colony. The conditions for success were not favorable due to the colony’s small size and the ravages of storms.