The Ralph Lane Colony

  • 1528

    Born

    Ralph Lane was born in October 1528
  • 1554

    Went to school

    Ralph Lane attended oxford in 1554
  • 1559

    Served In the English Parliament

    Ralph Lane served In the English Parliament in the late 1550s and early 1560s
  • 1563

    Serving the Queen

    He was serving Queen Elizabeth's the first court marking the beginning of his service to Queen and country
  • 1569

    Anti Rebellion group

    Ralph Lane participated In a force that suppressed a rebellion in Scotland and he gained accolades for military skill
  • 1570

    Maritime Affairs

    Lane had involved himself in maritime affairs which included a queen’s commission to seize ships in 1571
  • 1575

    Helping England's struggle

    By the late 1570s and early 1580 he was developing plans and offering his work in helping the England struggle with Spain.
  • Lane builds forts

    In 1583, Lane received a commission to go to Ireland and direct the construction of forts.
  • Recalled Lane

    In 1585 Queen Elizabeth recalled Lane from Ireland and he was given command of the colony that Sir Walter Raleigh was organizing to sail to Roanoke Island.
  • The Fleet

    In April 1585, seven ships with about 600 men under the command of Sir Richard Grenville left England. After a storm scattered the fleet and reduced it to five ships, the company regrouped. 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.
  • 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. On June 18 1586 The first English colonist left North America
  • Back to serving the Queen

    Lane was back in Ireland in 1592 serving as muster master general
  • Ralph Lanes Death

    By 1601 Lane’s physical weakness had made him unfit as muster master. Lane died in Dublin, Ireland, in October 1603