Gilbert, Sir Humphrey Sir Humphrey Gilbert c.1539-1583. English
nobleman and explorer who annexed Newfoundland to Britain in
1583. He was lost at sea on his return voyage. He had been
active in promoting English North American colonization. Queen
Elizabeth reissued Gilbert's exploration and colonization patent
to Walter Raleigh, Gilbert's brother-in-law, who used it to
plant a colony at Roanoke.