|Sir Walter Raleigh| Portrait of Sir Walter Raleigh inscribed
right: Aetatis suae 34 An(no) 1588 ("In the year 1588 of his age
34") and left: with his motto Amore et Virtute ("By Love and
Virtue"). National Portrait Gallery, London, NPG 7 22 January
1552 (or 1554)| Hayes Barton, Devonshire |Died||29 October 1618
65) |Occupation||Writer, poet, soldier, courtier, explorer| Sir
Walter Raleigh (//, //, or //; c. 1554 – 29 October 1618) was an
English aristocrat, writer, poet, soldier, courtier, spy, and
explorer. He is also well known for popularising tobacco in
England. Raleigh was born to a Protestant family in Devon, the
son of Walter Raleigh and Catherine Champernowne. Little is
known of his early life, though he spent some time in Ireland,
in Killua Castle, Clonmellon, County Westmeath, taking part in
the suppression of rebellions and participating in the Siege of
Smerwick. Later he became a landlord of property confiscated
from the native Irish. He rose rapidly in the favour of Queen
Elizabeth I, and was kn