MARCH 25

On this date in 1584, Sir Walter Raleigh was granted by the English government a royal patent (exclusive right) to explore and settle territories in The New World on it's behalf.  What a character this guy was. 

In his early years, as a soldier, he spent a lot of his time in Ireland suppressing the Irish and taking their land.  Later he led expeditions to the Americas which led to colonies in what was known as the Virgina territory.  The capital city of North Carolina is named after him.  He was instrumental in bringing tobacco to the colonies and, of course, Raleigh cigarettes bear his name.  He became quite an aristocrat and dabbled in writing and poetry.  Once, he was thrown in jail when he married one of the Queen's ladies-in-waiting without the queen's permission.

On behalf of England, he led two expeditions to South America searching for the fabled City of Gold.  After the second of these, he was executed for ransacking a Spanish outpost.  Yes, quite a character.
'o.o'