Who Was Sir Walter Raleigh?

He was born in 1554, and was a Rennaissance man, explorer, poet, writer and courtier.  He is viewed as a dashing wit and character of the period, if also a serial womaniser.  

He made several efforts to settle the New World in what would become the Virginia colony.  For Americans, Raleigh is most relevant as the instigator of "The Lost Colony" on Roanoke Island off of the mainland area of Virginia.  This was a settlement started in 1587, but that had disappeared by 1591; it's a complete mystery what happened to the settlers.

For the British, Raleigh is known as much as anything for bringing tobacco back to Europe.  He made it fashionable to smoke by setting the example, including (it's said) at his execution.

Raleigh lost the Queen's favour by having a love affair with one of her maids -- without QEII's permission and probably in violation of her perceived love affair with him.  Soon after Elizabeth died in 1603 Raleigh was framed for a treason plot and imprisoned.  He was let out after 12 years only to be accused of treason again and executed in 1618.