Sir Walter Raliegh was born in 1552, he was half brother to Sir Humphrey and Sir John Gilbert, from his mother's first marriage. He had a brother, Carew and sister, Margaret.

From 1553 to 1558, Queen Mary I was on the throne which was a time when Roman Catholic church was in favour despite many of the population being Protestants.

Protestants were often persecuted or burnt at the stake. Raleigh and his family were Protestants, his parents knew a woman who was martyred at Exeter and his father escaped being killed by hiding in a church tower. Raleigh understandably grew up with a hatred of the Catholic Church.

By 1581, Raleigh was a favourite of Queen Elizabeth I, which is where the famous story of him laying a cloak over a puddle for her stems from. Despite the Queens affection for Sir Walter, when she learnt of his love affair, which had led to marriage and pregnancy, with one of her Maids of Honour, Bessie, she threw him in the Tower of London!

When Raleigh was released he retired to Sherborne Castle in Dorset which was his reward from the queen for previous expeditions.

In 1603 Queen Elizabeth the first died and James the first took the throne. Raleigh was then framed as a member of a plot against the throne and sentenced to life imprisonment.

	Other Dorset characters: H & W Head Brewer  /  Thomas Hardy  /  Hugh Fearnly-Whittingstall Sir Walter Raleigh  /  Mary Shelly