Last updated: July 8, 2024
Person
Ralph Lane
National Park Service
Quick Facts
Significance:
Leader of 1585 Expedition to Roanoke Island
Date of Birth:
C. 1530
Date of Death:
1603
Place of Burial:
Dublin, Ireland
Cemetery Name:
St. Patrick's Cathedral
Originally a sheriff from County Kerry, Ireland, Ralph Lane was an experienced solider, sailor and explorer hired to help lead the expedition to the New World in 1585. Born sometime between 1528 and 1532, Lane made a career of serving the Queen. Throughout the 1560s and 70s, Lane traveled between military campaigns. He was involved in suppressing a rebellion in Scotland and maritime affairs seizing ships.
In 1583, Lane was sent to Ireland to direct fort construction. He was recalled in 1585 to England to assist with the commanding of Sir Walter Raleigh’s colony in the New World. It appears that Raleigh personally invited Lane to lead the colony once they landed. The group was organized as a military expedition containing mostly soldiers and sailors, but scientists and an artist went as well. The men left on 7 ships with roughly 600 men. The supply ship was run aground in the sound and drastically reduced the number of people the colony could support.
Sir Richard Grenville left 107 men including Lane and returned to England for more supplies. Ralph Lane was left to command the remaining colonists and he did so with military precision. The initial relations with the native tribes were good, with Lane’s men relying on the locals to feed them. However, the English began to grow mistrustful of the natives at the same time the natives began to lose patience with the English. Part of the problem was the fact that Lane did not know how to properly work with the natives, which led to larger problems.
After the Secotan began to distance themselves further in June of 1586, Lane attacked and killed Wingina. Outraged by the murder, the natives began to plan a counterattack. However, the English were rescued less than a week later by Sir Francis Drake. Lane never returned to the New World. He continued being actively involved in military service.
Ralph Lane died in 1603 after finally succumbing to wounds sustained during the Irish Rebellion of 1594.