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Grenville, Sir Richard
Grenville, Sir Richard (1542–91). Of a landed family, Grenville was born at Buckland abbey, between Tavistock and Plymouth, which he sold to Francis Drake in 1581 (hence it became a Grenville–Drake shrine). Having campaigned against the Turks as a soldier, and in Ireland, in 1576 Grenville became sheriff of Cornwall and was knighted. A relative of Ralegh, Grenville was much involved, both as MP and man of action, in transatlantic settlement, especially during 1585–6 at Roanoke Island (North Carolina). In 1588 he fitted out ships against the Spanish Armada, and in 1591, under Lord Thomas Howard's command, Grenville sailed to the Azores to intercept the Spanish treasure fleet. Detained at Flores, with many sick, Grenville, in Revenge, a ship of proven fighting qualities, confronted alone a force of over 50 Spanish warships. Sinking one and damaging others before surrendering, Grenville died of his wounds; Revenge foundered in a gale shortly afterwards. Grenville's last fight became a legend.
David Denis Aldridge |
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Cite this article
JOHN CANNON. "Grenville, Sir Richard." The Oxford Companion to British History. 2002. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. JOHN CANNON. "Grenville, Sir Richard." The Oxford Companion to British History. 2002. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O110-GrenvilleSirRichard.html JOHN CANNON. "Grenville, Sir Richard." The Oxford Companion to British History. 2002. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O110-GrenvilleSirRichard.html |
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Sir Richard Grenville
Sir Richard Grenville 1542?–1591, English naval hero. His cousin, Sir Walter Raleigh , gave him command of the fleet of seven vessels carrying the first colonists to Roanoke Island in 1585. In 1591, Grenville was second in command, under Lord Thomas Howard, of the fleet sent to capture the Spanish treasure ships off the Azores. When Lord Thomas withdrew on finding the odds against him too heavy, Grenville's ship, the Revenge, became separated from the rest of the fleet, and Grenville tried to break through the Spanish line. He fought 15 Spanish ships all one evening and night, was mortally wounded, and died in Spanish captivity. His exploit is celebrated in Tennyson's poem "The Revenge." |
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Cite this article
"Sir Richard Grenville." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Sir Richard Grenville." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-GrenvillR.html "Sir Richard Grenville." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-GrenvillR.html |
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Grenville, Sir Richard
Grenville, Sir Richard (1542–91). Of a landed family, Grenville was born at Buckland abbey, between Tavistock and Plymouth, which he sold to Francis Drake in 1581. A relative of Ralegh, Grenville was much involved, both as MP and man of action, in transatlantic settlement, especially during 1585–6 at Roanoke Island (North Carolina). In 1588 he fitted out ships against the Spanish Armada, and in 1591, under Lord Thomas Howard's command, Grenville sailed to the Azores to intercept the Spanish treasure fleet. In Revenge, Grenville confronted alone a force of over 50 Spanish warships. Sinking one and damaging others before surrendering, Grenville died of his wounds and Revenge foundered shortly afterwards. Grenville's last fight became a legend.
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Cite this article
JOHN CANNON. "Grenville, Sir Richard." A Dictionary of British History. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. JOHN CANNON. "Grenville, Sir Richard." A Dictionary of British History. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O43-GrenvilleSirRichard.html JOHN CANNON. "Grenville, Sir Richard." A Dictionary of British History. 2004. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O43-GrenvilleSirRichard.html |
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Grenville, Sir Richard
Grenville, Sir Richard (1542–91) English naval commander. He became Member of Parliament for Cornwall (1571), led the unsuccessful expedition to colonize Roanoake planned by his cousin Sir Walter RALEIGH, and supplied three ships to the force assembled against the Spanish Armada. He died after an epic battle off the Azores, during which his ship Revenge held out for 15 hours against a powerful Spanish fleet.
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Cite this article
"Grenville, Sir Richard." A Dictionary of World History. 2000. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Grenville, Sir Richard." A Dictionary of World History. 2000. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O48-GrenvilleSirRichard.html "Grenville, Sir Richard." A Dictionary of World History. 2000. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O48-GrenvilleSirRichard.html |
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