Raleigh was an English aristocrat, writer, poet, soldier, courtier, spy, and explorer.  He is largely known for bringing tobacco to England.  However, little is known about his early life.  It is known that he was born in Devon, England.  He was the youngest of five sons born to Catherine Champernowne in two different marriages.  One of his half brothers was Humphrey Gilbert, who helped instill Raleigh's desire to found a colony in North America.  

Raleigh commissioned Philip Amadas and Arthur Barlowe to lead his first exploration.  During their voyage, they discovered Roanoke Island and returned with stories of great riches.  They also brought two Indian chiefs back to meet Queen Elizabeth.  The talk of spices, new plants, wildlife, and Queen Elizabeth's fondness for her New World friends, inspired her decision to allow Raleigh to colonize Roanoke Island.  In 1587, Raleigh sent 117 colonists along with their governor, John White, to establish a permanent colony.  They arrived safely on Roanoke Island, off the coast of present day North Carolina.  Unfortunately, the settlers arrived too late in the year to plant crops.  It became evident that they would soon run out of supplies, so John White was sent back to England in order to retrieve more.  He was delayed by England's war with Spain, and when he returned three years later, the colony had vanished.  

Though Raleigh's plan to colonize the New World ended in failure at Roanoke Island, he paved the way for later colonies such as Jamestown.