Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 1.djvu/27

Rh experience in Ireland, where after defeating the celebrated McCarthy More he was made governor of Munster in October, 1569; knighted at Drogheda by the lord lieutenant of Ireland, Sir Henry Sidney, January 1, 1570, and the same year returned to England and married Joan, only daughter and heiress of John Aucher, of Otterden, by his wife Ann, daughter of Sir William Kellaway; M.P. from Plymouth in 1571; commanded the squadron sent to reinforce Flushing in the autumn of 1572; returned to England in the fall of 1573, and was living at Limehouse in 1575-78. He became greatly interested in making discoveries, and in 1566 petitioned the Queen for the privilege of making northeast discoveries, and in 1567 of making northwest discoveries. He wrote a "Discourse of a Discovery for a new passage to Cataia," and conceived the design of planting an English settlement in the New World to countervail the power of Spain. Accordingly, he obtained a patent from Queen Elizabeth for this purpose, dated June 11, 1578; sailed in the fall of that year with seven ships and 387 men, but was soon forced to return; in 1579 he sent Simon Ferdinando and in 1580 John Walker to make preliminary explorations, and on June 11, 1583, sailed himself a second time with five ships bearing 260 men; August 3, 1583, he reached Newfoundland, of which he took possession in the name of Queen Elizabeth. From here he sailed southward, but the desertion and loss of several of his vessels forced him to abandon the expedition and to attempt to return home with the two that remained. On the way a terrible storm on September 10, 1583, swallowed up one of them bearing Gilbert himself. Throughout the whole expedition he showed an invincible spirit, and his last words will be kept in precious remembrance: "We are as near Heaven by sea as by land." He is justly considered the founder of American colonization. He was the father of a number of children, among whom were John, Bartholomew and Raleigh Gilbert, all of whom were interested in the settlement of America.

Gilbert, Adrian, of Sandridge, son of Otho Gilbert, of Compton, and brother of Sir Humphrey (Gilbert, made a voyage to the northwest prior to 1583; interested in the voyages of his brother Sir Humphrey, in the voyages of John Davis 1586-87, and in the voyage of Cavendish, 1591; was constable of Sherborne Castle. 1596-1603; member of parliament for Bridgeport. 1597-98.

Gilbert, Sir John, of Greenway, eldest son of Otho Gilbert and Katherine Champernoun, his wife, and brother of Sir Humphrey Gilbert; knighted by Queen Elizabeth at Westminster, 1571; vice-admiral of Devon, 1585; mayor of Plymouth, 1589; married Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Richard Chudleigh, and was buried in St. Peter's Cathedral, Exeter, where an elegant monument remains to his memory. Interested in the expeditions of his brother Sir Humphrey.

Gilbert, Sir John, eldest son of Sir Humphrey Gilbert, went with Raleigh to Guiana in 1595; showed gallantry at the battle of Cadiz in 1596 and was knighted by Essex; governor of the fort at Plymouth, 1597; member of the council for Virginia, 1607; was a brave officer; married a daughter of Sir Richard Molyneux, of Sefton, but died without issue, July 5, 1608, of smallpox, and was buried at Marldon Church. His brother Raleigh Gilbert was his heir.

Ferdinando, Simon, a Portugese pilot, sailed with Drake on his celebrated voyage to the