BY JAMES BALDWIN
Sir Walter Raleigh
Famous Stories Retold: Story 16 of 50
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Exploration: He made several attempts to establish colonies in America and introduced the potato and tobacco to England.
Favor and Downfall: Initially favored by Queen Elizabeth, he eventually fell out of favor, was imprisoned, and later executed.
A good book we like, we explorers. That is our best amusement, and our best time killer
- Roald Amundsen, Explorer
Sir Walter Raleigh: The Man behind England's Potatoes and Tobacco
Venture back in time as we explore the remarkable life of an English gentleman, Sir Walter Raleigh. This tale is not only of bravery and nobility but also of the significant contributions he made to English society. Known for his chivalry, Raleigh's story is filled with intrigue as he brought back two items that would forever change England - the potato and tobacco. Join us as we delve into the life of this fascinating figure and his intriguing discoveries that continue to impact us to this day.
The Early Life of Walter Raleigh
Born into nobility in Devon, England, Walter Raleigh was a man of many talents. He was a writer, poet, soldier, politician, courtier, spy, and explorer. He was an adventurous soul from a young age, always eager to learn and explore. Raleigh was educated at Oxford and later studied law in London. His youthful years were marked by a spirit of exploration, an attribute that would play a significant role in his later life. Even as a child, he exhibited the qualities of bravery and nobility that would earn him a place in the annals of history.
Raleigh's Notable Encounter with Queen Elizabeth
A pivotal moment in Raleigh's life was his encounter with Queen Elizabeth I. The story goes that he was walking along a unpaved, muddy street in London when he saw the Queen approaching. A large puddle lay between the Queen and the other side of the street. Displaying his chivalry and quick thinking, Raleigh removed his expensive scarlet cloak and laid it over the muddy puddle, allowing the Queen to cross the street without soiling her shoes. This act caught the Queen's attention, which marked the beginning of Raleigh's close relationship with the royal court.
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The Knighthood of Walter Raleigh
After the notable encounter, Queen Elizabeth was so impressed by Raleigh's show of chivalry that she invited him to the palace. It was there, surrounded by the finest ladies and gentlemen of England, that she bestowed upon him the title of knighthood. From that moment onward, he was known as Sir Walter Raleigh. The Queen's favor opened doors for Raleigh, allowing him to embark on numerous expeditions to the New World and make numerous contributions to England's knowledge and culture.
Raleigh's Expeditions to America
Sir Walter Raleigh's spirit of adventure led him to the vast unknown territories of the New World. Accompanied by his half-brother, Sir Humphrey Gilbert, Raleigh embarked on his first voyage to America. The courage and determination of these men were evident in their pursuit of establishing a settlement in the foreign land.
However, their ambitious endeavors met with considerable obstacles. The men were confronted by the harsh realities of the American wilderness, including expansive forests, formidable wild beasts, and intimidating native tribes. Some of Raleigh's men succumbed to the harsh conditions, while others managed to return to England.
Despite the repeated failures and losses, Raleigh's ambition remained steadfast. However, after numerous unsuccessful attempts, he eventually ceased his efforts to establish a settlement in America. His endeavors, though not entirely successful, were indicative of the adventurous spirit and relentless determination that defined him.
The Introduction of Potatoes to England
In his voyages to America, Raleigh discovered a crop that was unknown in his homeland of England - the potato. He observed the native tribes using this vegetable as a staple food item. Intrigued by the versatility and nutritional value of this plant, Raleigh transported a few potatoes back to England.
He planted them in Ireland, where they thrived in the local soil, debunking the misconception that these vegetables could only grow in the New World. This simple act of introducing the potato to England had a profound impact on the nation's agricultural and culinary landscape. Today, it's hard to imagine British cuisine without the humble potato, and this can largely be credited to Raleigh's foresight and ingenuity.
The Advent of Tobacco Use in England
Among the many novelties that Raleigh encountered in the New World was the use of tobacco, a plant native to America. He witnessed the indigenous tribes smoking the leaves of this plant, a practice that was completely alien to the English at the time.
Raleigh decided to introduce this habit to England and began smoking tobacco himself. This new practice initially sparked curiosity and even concern among his countrymen, as evidenced by the incident with his servant who mistook the smoke for fire. However, over time, tobacco use became widely accepted and even popular.
While the health implications of tobacco use are now widely recognized, its introduction by Raleigh marked a significant cultural shift in England and eventually, the rest of the world.
Conclusion
Sir Walter Raleigh's gallantry and adventurous spirit led to the introduction of potatoes and tobacco to England. While his attempts to establish settlements in America may have been fraught with challenges, it was through these expeditions that he stumbled upon these two significant discoveries. Raleigh's influence, therefore, extends beyond his famed encounter with Queen Elizabeth and his knighthood. His story serves as a testament to the profound ways in which cross-cultural exchanges can shape societal norms and preferences, as evidenced by the enduring popularity of potatoes and tobacco in England and beyond.
There once lived in England a brave and noble man whose name was Walter Raleigh. He was not only brave and noble, but he was also handsome and polite; and for that reason the queen made him a knight, and called him Sir Walter Raleigh.
I will tell you about it.
When Raleigh was a young man, he was one day walking along a street in London. At that time the streets were not paved, and there were no sidewalks. Raleigh was dressed in very fine style, and he wore a beautiful scarlet cloak thrown over his shoulders.
As he passed along, he found it hard work to keep from stepping in the mud, and soiling his handsome new shoes. Soon he came to a puddle of muddy water which reached from one side of the street to the other. He could not step across. Perhaps he could jump over it.
As he was thinking what he should do, he happened to look up. Who was it coming down the street, on the other side of the puddle?
It was Elizabeth, the Queen of England, with her train of gentlewomen and waiting maids. She saw the dirty puddle in the street. She saw the handsome young man with the scarlet cloak, standing by the side of it. How was she to get across?
Young Raleigh, when he saw who was coming, forgot about himself. He thought only of helping the queen. There was only one thing that he could do, and no other man would have thought of that.
He took off his scarlet cloak, and spread it across the puddle. The queen could step on it now, as on a beautiful carpet.
She walked across. She was safely over the ugly puddle, and her feet had not touched the mud. She paused a moment, and thanked the young man.
As she walked onward with her train, she asked one of the gentlewomen, "Who is that brave gentleman who helped us so handsomely?"
"His name is Walter Raleigh," said the gentlewoman.
"He shall have his reward," said the queen.
Not long after that, she sent for Raleigh to come to her palace.
The young man went, but he had no scarlet cloak to wear. Then, while all the great men and fine ladies of England stood around, the queen made him a knight. And from that time he was known as Sir Walter Raleigh, the queen's favorite.
Sir Walter Raleigh and Sir Humphrey Gilbert about whom I have already told you, were halfbrothers.
When Sir Humphrey made his first voyage to America, Sir Walter was with him. After that, Sir Walter tried several times to send men to this country to make a settlement.
But those whom he sent found only great forests, and wild beasts, and savage Indians. Some of them went back to England; some of them died for want of food; and some of them were lost in the woods. At last Sir Walter gave up trying to get people to come to America.
But he found two things in this country which the people of England knew very little about. One was the potato, the other was tobacco.
If you should ever go to Ireland, you may be shown the place where Sir Walter planted the few potatoes which he carried over from America. He told his friends how the Indians used them for food; and he proved that they would grow in the Old World as well as in the New.
Sir Walter had seen the Indians smoking the leaves of the tobacco plant. He thought that he would do the same, and he carried some of the leaves to England. Englishmen had never used tobacco before that time; and all who saw Sir Walter puffing away at a roll of leaves thought that it was a strange sight.
One day as he was sitting in his chair and smoking, his servant came into the room. The man saw the smoke curling over his master's head, and he thought that he was on fire.
He ran out for some water. He found a pail that was quite full. He hurried back, and threw the water into Sir Walter's face. Of course the fire was all put out.
After that a great many men learned to smoke. And now tobacco is used in all countries of the world. It would have been well if Sir Walter Raleigh had let it alone.
