A Discourse of a Discoverie for a New Passage to Cataia, authored by Humphrey Gilbert, detailed his obsession with finding a Northwest Passage by America to China. His life was defined by the intersection of military brutality in Ireland and colonial ambition, as he transitioned from a soldier wounded at the siege of Newhaven to an English member of parliament.
Military Service and Irish Campaigns
Educated at Eton College and the University of Oxford, Gilbert moved to the Inns of Chancery in 1560. His early military experience began at the siege of Newhaven in 1563. By 1566, he entered the service of Sir Henry Sidney in Ireland, participating in the Tudor conquest. After the assassination of Shane O'Neill in 1567, he assumed the role of governor of Ulster. In 1569, he pushed westward across the River Blackwater, engaging in a campaign that resulted in the capture of numerous castles. During these operations, he implemented a psychological warfare tactic involving the decapitation of locals to terrorize the population.
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Gilbert represented Plymouth in the 1571 Parliament and later Queenborough in the 1572–1583 sessions. Within the political sphere, he advocated for crown prerogative regarding royal licences for purveyance. Beyond legislation, he engaged in various ventures, including a failed alchemical project alongside William Cecil and Thomas Smith intended to transmute iron into copper. He also proposed the creation of a London academy, a precursor to the institution later established as Gresham College, and helped initiate the Society of the New Art.
Overseas Endeavours and Death
In 1572, Gilbert took 1,500 men to the Spanish Netherlands to support the Dutch Sea beggars in a military effort that ultimately ended in failure. His colonial ambitions were deeply rooted in his familial connections, being the half-brother of Sir Walter Raleigh and a cousin of Sir Richard Grenville. After marrying Anne Ager in 1570, with whom he had seven children, he continued his pursuit of new territories. He died in 1583 at the age of 44, his legacy marked by his role in the early development of the English colonial empire.
Fast facts
- Born: 1539, Devon
- Died: 1583
- Education: Eton College and University of Oxford
- Spouse: Anne Ager
- Occupations: Politician, explorer, soldier
- Parliamentary service: 1571, 1572-1583
- Notable work: A Discourse of a Discoverie for a New Passage to Cataia
- Citizenship: Kingdom of England
Questions readers ask
What military roles did Humphrey Gilbert hold?
He served as a soldier during the siege of Newhaven and later operated as governor of Ulster and a colonel during the Irish campaigns.
Did Gilbert hold any political positions?
Yes, he served as a member of the Irish Parliament and was elected to the English Parliament for Plymouth and Queenborough.
Achievements
- Recorded as explorer and politician
