Ralph Lane Colony Timeline

By Stacey_Jacobs
  • 1528

    Date of birth

    Ralph lane was born in 1528
  • Period: 1550 to 1560

    Served in the English Parliament

    served in the English Parliament in late 1550s and early 1560s
  • 1554

    Oxford University

    Ralph Lane, born to Sir Ralph Lane and Maud Parr Lane of Northhampton, attended Oxford University in 1554
  • 1563

    Queen Elizabeth I’s court

    By 1563 Lane was serving in Queen Elizabeth I’s court, marking the beginning of a career of service to queen and country
  • 1569

    Participated in a force

    Lane participated in a force that suppressed a rebellion in Scotland in 1569 where he gained accolades for his military skill.
  • 1570

    Lane had involved himself in maritime affairs

    By the early 1570s, Lane had involved himself in maritime affairs which included a queen’s commission to seize ships in 1571.
  • Period: 1570 to 1580

    developing plans and offering his services

    By the late 1570s and early 1580s, he was developing plans and offering his services in helping England struggle with Spain.

  • Lane received a commission

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

  • Queen recalled Lane from Ireland

    In 1585 the queen recalled Lane from Ireland and he was given command of the colony that Sir Walter Raleigh was organizing to sail to Virginia (Roanoke Island).

  • Left England

    In April 1585, seven ships with about 600 men under the overall command of Sir Richard Grenville left England.
  • Period: to

    Time served as Governor

    Ralph Lane served as governor of the first colony attempted by the English in America from 1585-1586

  • fleet led by Sir Francis Drake left Roanoke

    On June 18 or 19, 1586, a fleet led by Sir Francis Drake left Roanoke carrying the first English colonists back home.

  • Lane was back in Ireland

    Lane was back in Ireland in 1592 serving as “muster master general” and “clerk of the check of the garrison” and remained in that country for the rest of his life

  • Lane’s physical weakness

    By 1601 Lane’s physical weakness had made him unfit as muster master.

  • Date of Death

    lane died in Dublin, Ireland, in October 1603 and was buried at St. Patrick’s Church on the 28th of that month.