Humphrey Gilbert
Sir Humphrey Gilbert entered the world around 1539 as the fifth son of Otho Gilbert, a man who held estates at Compton, Greenway, and Galmpton in Devon. His mother Catherine Champernowne was a niece of Kat Ashley, the governess to Queen Elizabeth I. This family connection introduced young Gilbert to the royal court during his childhood years. He attended Eton College before moving on to study at the University of Oxford. There he learned to speak French and Spanish while studying war and navigation. By about 1560 or 1561, he resided at the Inns of Chancery in London. His uncle Sir Arthur Champernowne involved him in the Plantations of Ireland between 1566 and 1572. Gilbert served under Sir Henry Sidney during the siege of Newhaven in Havre-de-Grâce, Normandy, where he sustained wounds in June 1563.
Gilbert's military career intensified after the assassination of Shane O'Neill in 1567 when he became governor of Ulster. He petitioned William Cecil for recall to England citing eye recovery issues but remained focused on southern Ireland. In April 1569 he proposed establishing a presidency and council for Munster with extensive settlement around Baltimore. The summer of that year saw Gilbert push westward across the River Blackwater to join forces against Sir Edmund Butler. Violence spread from Leinster into Munster as the Geraldines led by James FitzMaurice FitzGerald rose up. Gilbert received promotion to colonel by Lord Deputy Sidney and pursued FitzGerald relentlessly. His forces drove the Geraldines out of Kilmallock only to face their return siege. During a sally his horse was shot from beneath him while his buckler took a spear wound. He then marched unopposed through Kerry and Connello capturing thirty to forty castles over three weeks. Thomas Churchyard described how Gilbert's men showed no quarter to anyone they encountered including women and children. After the campaign Gilbert justified attacking non-combatants arguing that soldiers could not be maintained without their churls and old women who milked cows and provided victuals.
Gilbert returned to England in 1570 where he married Anne Ager daughter of John Ager of Otterden. They would have six sons and one daughter together. In 1571 he won election to Parliament representing Plymouth, Devon, followed by Queenborough in 1572. He argued for crown prerogative regarding royal licenses for purveyance during these years. Around this time he joined Thomas Smith and William Cecil supporting William Medley's alchemical project attempting to transmute iron into copper. By 1572 Gilbert turned attention toward the Spanish Netherlands fighting an unsuccessful campaign supporting Dutch Sea beggars with 1,500 men. Many had deserted from Smith's aborted plantation in the Ards of Ulster. Between 1572 and 1578 he devoted himself to writing while presenting Queen Elizabeth I a proposal for an academy in London. This idea eventually materialized through Sir Thomas Gresham establishing Gresham College. Gilbert also helped establish the Society of the New Art alongside William Cecil and Robert Dudley Earl of Leicester both maintaining alchemical laboratories in Limehouse.
The remainder of Gilbert's life involved failed maritime expeditions that exhausted his family fortune. After receiving letters patent on the 11th of June 1578 he set sail in November 1578 with seven vessels from Plymouth. Storms scattered the fleet forcing them back to port after six months. Only the Falcon under Raleigh's command penetrated far into the Atlantic. In summer 1579 Lord Deputy William Drury commissioned Gilbert and Raleigh to attack James FitzMaurice Fitzgerald again by sea and land. Gilbert commanded three vessels including the 250-ton Anne Ager named after his wife plus the Relief and the small 10-ton Squirrell frigate. He departed in June 1579 but got lost immediately in fog and heavy rain off Land's End Cornwall causing Queen Elizabeth to doubt his seafaring ability. The fleet drifted into the Bay of Biscay while Spanish ships slipped past to rendezvous with Irish forces at Dingle harbour. By October Gilbert entered Cobh in Cork where he delivered a beating to a local gentleman smashing him about the head with a sword before murdering another merchant on the dockside during an argument.
Gilbert secured significant funding from English Catholic investors in 1583 despite their penal law constraints. These investors sought American settlement rather than exile in hostile European regions. Gilbert proposed seizing nine million acres around the river Norumbega to parcel out under his authority though ultimately held by the Crown. The Privy Council insisted investors pay recusancy fines before departure while Catholic clergy and Spanish agents worked to dissuade them. Shorn of Catholic financing Gilbert set sail with five vessels in June 1583. One ship Bark Raleigh owned by Walter Raleigh turned back due to lack of victuals. His crews consisted largely of misfits criminals and pirates yet the fleet reached Newfoundland nonetheless. Upon arriving at St John's port Gilbert faced blockade by fishing fleets organized by an English admiral over piracy committed against Portuguese vessels in 1582. After overcoming resistance Gilbert took possession of Newfoundland including lands two hundred leagues north and south for the English Crown on the 5th of August 1583. He cut turf symbolizing transfer of soil according to common law while locals presented him with a dog named Stella after the North Star. He claimed authority over fish stations at St John's levying taxes on fishermen from multiple countries working near Grand Banks.
On the 20th of August Gilbert's fleet departed for the river Norumbega region on the American mainland. During this voyage he ordered controversial course changes leading to disaster. Owing to obstinacy and disregard for superior mariners the ship Delight ran aground sinking with only sixteen survivors among sandbars off Sable Island. Delight had been largest remaining vessel containing most supplies. After discussions with Edward Hayes and William Cox captain of Golden Hind Gilbert decided the 31st of August to return to England. Fleet cleared Cape Race after two days then moved clear of land. A sea monster resembling lion with glaring eyes appeared during passage. On the 2nd of September Gilbert stepped on nail aboard Squirrel going aboard Golden Hind for foot bandaging and discussion about keeping ships together. He refused leaving Squirrell despite strong storms bringing fair progress. Gilbert visited Hayes again insisting return to Squirrel even though she was over-gunned and unsafe. Nearly away from Cape Race near Azores they encountered heavy seas breaking short and high pyramid wise according to Hayes. On the 9th of September Squirrel nearly overwhelmed but recovered. Despite others wishing him aboard larger vessel Gilbert stayed reading book in stern. When Golden Hind came within hailing distance crew heard Gilbert cry repeatedly We are as near to Heaven by sea as by land while lifting palm to skies. At midnight frigate lights extinguished watch cried out general cast away. Squirrel went down with all hands thought reading material Utopia by Sir Thomas More.
Gilbert belonged to prominent generation of Devonshire men combining adventurer writer soldier mariner roles. Historian A L Rowse noted outstanding initiative and originality if not success especially regarding colonization efforts. In Ireland Ulster and Munster forcibly colonized by English while American venture eventually flourished. Formality of Newfoundland annexation achieved reality in 1610. More significant issuance royal charter to Raleigh in 1584 based partly on earlier patent enabled Roanoke expeditions first sustained attempt establishing colonies North America. Gilbert fathered Ralegh Gilbert who became second command failed Popham Colony Maine. Gilbert Sound near Greenland named after him by John Davis. Certain contemporaries speculated pederasty though Sir Thomas Smith remarked only way soothe temper sending boy to him. His patents influenced subsequent English colonization including Plantations Ulster despite personal failures.
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Common questions
When was Sir Humphrey Gilbert born and who were his parents?
Sir Humphrey Gilbert entered the world around 1539 as the fifth son of Otho Gilbert and Catherine Champernowne. His mother was a niece of Kat Ashley, the governess to Queen Elizabeth I.
What happened during Sir Humphrey Gilbert's expedition in June 1578?
Sir Humphrey Gilbert set sail from Plymouth on the 11th of June 1578 with seven vessels but storms scattered the fleet forcing them back to port after six months. Only the Falcon under Raleigh's command penetrated far into the Atlantic before the rest returned.
How did Sir Humphrey Gilbert die during his final voyage in September 1583?
The frigate Squirrel went down with all hands on the 2nd of September 1583 while returning to England from Newfoundland. Witnesses heard Gilbert cry repeatedly that they were as near to Heaven by sea as by land before the ship disappeared beneath heavy seas.
Where did Sir Humphrey Gilbert claim possession for the English Crown in August 1583?
Sir Humphrey Gilbert took possession of Newfoundland including lands two hundred leagues north and south for the English Crown on the 5th of August 1583. He cut turf symbolizing transfer of soil according to common law at St John's port.