Grenville, Sir Richard definition of Grenville, Sir Richard in the Free Online Encyclopedia.

Grenville, Sir Richard, 1542?–1591, English naval hero. His cousin, Sir Walter Raleigh Raleigh or Ralegh, Sir Walter (both: rŏl`ē, răl`ē)
..... Click the link for more information. , gave him command of the fleet of seven vessels carrying the first colonists to Roanoke Island Roanoke Island, 12 mi (19 km) long and 3 mi (4.8 km) wide, NE N.C., off the Atlantic coast between Croatan (W) and Roanoke (E) sounds in the Outer Banks . Manteo is the chief town, and tourism and fishing are the principal industries.
..... Click the link for more information. in 1585. In 1591, Grenville was second in command, under Lord Thomas Howard, of the fleet sent to capture the Spanish treasure ships off the Azores. When Lord Thomas withdrew on finding the odds against him too heavy, Grenville's ship, the Revenge, became separated from the rest of the fleet, and Grenville tried to break through the Spanish line. He fought 15 Spanish ships all one evening and night, was mortally wounded, and died in Spanish captivity. His exploit is celebrated in Tennyson's poem "The Revenge."

Bibliography

See biography (1937, repr. 1963) and study (1957) by A. L. Rowse.