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Jan 1, 1552
Born
Walter Raleigh is born in Hayes Barton in East Budleigh, Devonshire, England.The exact date of his birth is unknown, and even the year is speculated to be between 1552 and 1554. -
Jan 1, 1567
WR joins the military.
As a teenager, WR joins a cavalry regiment in the Queen's army. -
Jan 1, 1574
WR gets an education.
WR begins attending Oriel College, Oxford. -
Jan 1, 1575
First Secret Society
WR is invited to the Honourable Society of the Middle Temple, which was apparently a thing in England in the 16th century. -
Jan 1, 1578
WR first visits America
WR sails to America with his half-brother, Sir Humphrey Gilbert. -
Jan 1, 1579
Baby Daddy, Pt. I
WR has an illegitimate daughter by Alice Goold, a local seamstress. -
Jan 1, 1580
The Irish Rebellion
WR helps to put down the Irish Rebellion and becomes a favorite of Queen Elizabeth. The Queen grants him several lucrative wine monopolies. He becomes rich -
Period: Jan 1, 1580 to
Poetry
Nearly all of WR's famous peoms (including "Now What Is Love?") was written to, for, or about Queen Elizabeth I. This indicates that they were most likely written between his coming into the Court, and falling out of favor with her. -
WR goes to America, Pt. II
WR receives a grant to create a colony in America. -
Roanoke Colony established
WR, with his crew of 108 men, lands in present-day Virginia, and established the Roanoke Colony. -
WR becomes Sir WR
Queen Elizabeth knights WR and makes him governor of a new territory. He names it "Virginia" to be a suck-up. -
WR saves the Queen
WR (with the help of Sir Francis Walsingham) discovers a plot to assasinate the Queen and replace her with Mary, Queen of Scots. (known as the Babington Plot) -
WR becomes Captain of the Queen's Guard
... because all of that sucking-up paid off. -
Married Elizabeth (Bessie) Throckmorton
This marriage upset the Queen because Elizabeth was one of her ladies-in-waiting. As a result, the Queen sent WR to the Tower of London (which sounds awesome but was actually England's Guantanamo) -
Baby Daddy, Pt. II
WR is released from the Tower. Shortly thereafter, he and Elizabeth have a son, who is also named Walter. -
The Search for El Dorado
WR hears about a City of Gold in South America The following year he explores present-day Venezuela without success. His account of the expedition, "The Discovery of Guiana," contributed to the legend of El Dorado. -
Parliament
WR is chosen as a member of parliament for Dorset and Cornwall. -
Regime Change
Queen Elizabeth I dies, and is succeeded by King James, son of Mary, Queen of Scots. the new King puts WR back in the Tower of London on charges of treason. -
Baby Daddy, Pt. III
Walter and Elizabeth have another son, called Carew. -
WR released from prison
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WR travels to Guiana
Apparently Guiana is the Florida of England, because that's where he retires to. -
Dies
WR is beheaded for accidentally attacking a Spanish settlement. Apparently, he should've asked his doctor before trying to attack the Spanish.